U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Monday proposed a nearly 2 percent increase for the U.S. homeland security budget for 2012, one the few areas of the budget that will likely see a boost as the White House battles a ballooning deficit.

A nationally known pain specialist says she's become the target of intimidation for speaking out against a Henderson doctor who has been linked by authorities to multiple deaths and lost his license to prescribe controlled substances.

The United States accused a Lebanese bank Thursday of laundering hundreds of millions of dollars in drug proceeds from a cocaine trafficker with ties to the militant group Hezbollah.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday accused a Beirut-based bank of involvement in an international money-laundering and drug-trafficking operation with ties to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are increasing efforts to crack down on criminal gangs in Colombia that are running cocaine to Mexican drug kingpins who are at war with Mexico's security forces.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two drugs that produce a "meth-like" high and are being sold under the guise of "bath salts" would be banned as federally controlled substances under a bill unveiled by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer of New York.

Security costs for the Vancouver Olympics ballooned almost five times over the course of the games' preparation.. Security costs for the Vancouver Olympics ballooned almost five times over the course of the games' preparation, according to a report issued in the Canadian parliament last month. Security, originally estimated at $175 million when the games were awarded in 2002, eventually cost the Canadian taxpayer nearly $854 million.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two drugs that produce a "meth-like" high and are being sold under the guise of "bath salts" would be banned as federally controlled substances under a bill unveiled on Sunday by Senator Charles Schumer.

DENVER (Reuters) - Five U.S. Air Force Academy cadets have been expelled and another 25 are under investigation for using the drug "spice," a synthetic substance that mimics the effects of marijuana, academy officials said on Friday.

PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. police arrested 17 people and broke up a gun running network that sought to funnel more than 700 firearms including high-powered Kalashnikov rifles to Mexico drug cartels, authorities said on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Seven midshipmen were expelled from the U.S. Naval Academy for using or having a banned marijuana-like substance known as "spice," officials said.

PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. police arrested 17 people and broke up a gun running network that sought to funnel more than 700 firearms including high-powered Kalashnikov rifles to Mexico drug cartels, authorities said on Tuesday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Russian Viktor Bout, accused of trafficking arms and nicknamed the "Merchant of Death" in the West, will stand trial in a New York federal court in September, a U.S. judge said on Friday.

Judge dismisses lawsuit by DEA agent who shot himself during gun safety demonstration. A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a DEA agent who claimed the agency leaked a video that showed him accidentally shooting himself while demonstrating gun safety in Florida.

A suspected Russian arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death" said in a rare interview published Sunday that he rejected a US plea bargain offer that would have exposed his alleged contact list.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad. Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela has detained 12,376 people for drug-related crimes this year, about 40 percent more than in 2009, as the South American nation continues to be a major shipment route, authorities said on Monday.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration has grown into a global intelligence organisation whose reach extends far beyond international drug trafficking, according to new US government cables.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration has grown into a global intelligence organization whose reach extends far beyond international drug trafficking, The New York Times reported.

Leaked cable: Mexican army sees 7-10 year role in drug war, mistrusts other agencies. A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable published Saturday depicts the leader of Mexico's army "lamenting" its lengthy role in the anti-drug offensive, but expecting it to last between seven and 10 more years.