#smuggling

#smuggling

China has accused two Taiwanese nationals of leading a smuggling operation involving a Chinese-crewed vessel that damaged subsea cables in February, in an incident that has stoked tensions between the countries. The public security bureau in Weihai, in China's eastern Shandong province, said on Wednesday that a probe into the incident showed that two Taiwanese men had been operating the ship involved the Togo-registered Hong Tai 58 as part of a longstanding operation smuggling frozen goods into China.

NATO member Lithuania has closed its two biggest airports and shut crossings on its border with Belarus after helium weather balloons drifted into its territory, the third such incident in the Baltic nation this month. European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region.

Dozens of balloons used by smugglers to transport cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania forced the temporary closure of Vilnius airport overnight. The Lithuanian capital's airport was closed from 11pm local time on Tuesday to 6.30am on Wednesday. Smugglers use the balloons to send Belarusian cigarettes into the European Union, where tobacco products are more expensive. The head of Lithuania's national crisis management centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, described the latest balloon incursion as the most intense this year.

We are very frightened of what will happen to us, said one. We were told we can claim asylum in France but nobody has explained to us what we need to do. I escaped from the smugglers in Calais when I travelled to UK and I am scared they will find me here and kill me.

Millennia ago a piece of the sky fell toward East Africa, streaking overhead, born of an ancient collision of asteroids. The meteorite landed, probably with more of a thud than a boom, in a river valley where camels now forage near the village of El Ali in Somalia. Known locally as Shiid-birood (the iron rock), the El Ali meteorite is 13.6 metric tons of iron and nickel.

The 30-year-old has been able to check that the roof was repaired and that crops are growing tangible proof that the money he sent home had reached his family safely. Sending money was the simplest way for me to feel connected to my family, Park says, adding that he worries that without it, his brother might be drafted and sent to fight in Russia because his family will not have enough to pay bribes to get fake medical certificates so as to be exempt.

Germany is set to tighten its laws to crack down on gangs smuggling migrants to the UK by the end of the year, marking significant changes in legislation.

Customs officials in Germany seized approximately 1,500 young tarantulas hidden inside chocolate sponge cake boxes shipped from Vietnam to Cologne Bonn airport. The discovery was made after officials noticed a 'noticeable smell' that was not consistent with the confectionery treats.

Gardaí in Wexford have launched an investigation after two males were found concealed in a truck during an immigration check at dawn.