Despite Germany’s recent legalization of cannabis, the black market remains a significant source of supply, putting consumers at risk. A new study by Sanity Group reveals alarmingly high levels of contaminants, including human and animal feces, viruses, and dangerous pesticides, in black market cannabis samples from across Germany and Europe. The findings highlight the urgent need for regulated cannabis sales to protect consumers’ health.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a crackdown on the illegal sale of concert tickets, conducting raids in multiple cities across India. The investigation, linked to the Dil-luminati and Coldplay concerts, targets individuals accused of inflating ticket prices and selling counterfeit tickets, exploiting the overwhelming demand for these popular events. The investigation comes just hours before Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in Delhi, highlighting the scale of the black market operations.
BookMyShow, the official ticketing partner for Coldplay’s upcoming Mumbai concert, has filed a complaint against individuals involved in black marketing of tickets. The complaint alleges that tickets were being sold at inflated rates on various social media platforms, despite warnings against purchasing tickets from unauthorized sellers.
NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad has accused Coldplay and BookMyShow of engaging in black market practices regarding concert tickets, sparking an investigation by Mumbai Police. The accusations come after a complaint alleging that BookMyShow facilitated ticket scalping for the highly anticipated event.
Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has summoned Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow’s parent company Big Tree Entertainment, and the company’s technical head for questioning regarding alleged black market sales of Coldplay concert tickets. This action follows a complaint by advocate Amit Vyas, who accuses BookMyShow of enabling ticket scalping and misleading fans. The EOW is investigating potential violations of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including organized crime and fraud.
The amount of cannabis seized at UK airports has tripled in 2024, driven by overproduction in countries with legal cannabis programs and the lucrative black market in the UK. The British National Crime Agency (NCA) attributes the rise to higher prices for cannabis in the UK, making it a tempting target for smugglers despite the hefty penalties. While some couriers are misled about the risks, the NCA warns of significant prison sentences and the involvement of organized criminal gangs.
