A crew of New York City strippers scammed wealthy men by spiking their drinks with illegal synthetic drugs, then driving them to strip clubs that ran up tens of thousands of dollars on their credit cards while they were too wasted to stop it.

Suspicion in the murders of a Texas district attorney and his wife has shifted to a violent white supremacist prison gang.

Mexican drug cartels whose operatives once rarely ventured beyond the US border are dispatching some of their most trusted agents to live and work deep inside the US — an emboldened presence that experts believe is meant to tighten their grip on the world’s most lucrative narcotics market and maximise profits.

John Travolta will soon be back on the big screen, but weeks of negative headlines have focused on his personal life and not on the return of one of Hollywood’s top stars.

A student who was left handcuffed and forgotten in a tiny holding cell for four days is suing US authorities for $20m (€15m).

US agents helped make Joaquin Guzman the most powerful drug lord in the world. Aram Roston reports

AGENTS of the Iranian government were last night accused of being involved in a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, with help from a purported member of a Mexican drug cartel.

PROSECUTORS played a recording yesterday in which Michael Jackson is heard discussing his plans to build a hospital for children in a rambling, slurred conversation with the doctor charged over his death roughly six weeks before the entertainer’s death.

Prosecutors played a recording today in which Michael Jackson is heard discussing his plans to build a hospital for children in a rambling, slurred conversation with the doctor charged in connection with his death roughly six weeks before the entertainer’s death.

A SUSPECTED Russian arms dealer dubbed the “Merchant of Death” was flown out of Thailand to face trial in the United States following a long legal battle and fierce opposition from Moscow.

Following bloodshed over his capture, Jamaican gang leader Christopher “Dudus” Coke arrived in New York City under tight security yesterday to face charges he flooded the East Coast with shipments of cocaine and marijuana, authorities said.

MEXICAN President Felipe Calderon headed to his country’s most violent city yesterday after deadly attacks on US consular staff and their families upped the ante in his battle against drug gangs.

Michael Jackson’s doctor was today charged with involuntary manslaughter in the pop singer’s death.

US troops in Afghanistan suffered a further eight losses today, turning October into the deadliest month for American forces in the country since the conflict began in 2001.

IN the largest single strike at Mexican drug operations in the US, authorities arrested more than 300 people in a sting that demonstrates a young cartel’s vast reach north of the border.

In the largest single strike at Mexican drug operations in the US, authorities arrested more than 300 people in a sting that demonstrates a young cartel’s vast reach north of the border.

The family of Michael Jackson said it looked forward to justice being served following a ruling of homicide in the singer's death.

Michael Jackson’s death has been ruled as homicide, the Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed today in a move that could lead the way to criminal charges.

Michael Jackson’s death has been ruled as a homicide, a law enforcement official said, in a move that could open the door to criminal charges.

Federal drug agents today raided a Beverly Hills pharmacy as part of the ongoing investigation into Michael Jackson’s death.

Michael Jackson's personal physician will be charged with manslaughter within the next two weeks, it was reported today.

The powerful anaesthetic that investigators believe killed Michael Jackson came from a Nevada pharmacy that was raided this week, a law enforcement official said.

MICHAEL Douglas’s son travelled coast to coast dealing large quantities of methamphetamine, a criminal complaint said.

Michael Douglas’ son travelled coast to coast dealing large quantities of methamphetamine, a criminal complaint said.

Authorities investigating Michael Jackson's death referred to him as an "addict" and were seeking evidence related to the powerful anaesthetic propofol, according to search warrants released last night.

The home and office of Michael Jackson’s doctor were raided yesterday by federal agents investigating whether the administration of a powerful sedative may have caused the singer’s death.

Michael Jackson’s personal doctor is the target of the manslaughter investigation into the singer’s death, according to court documents.

Police and federal drug agents investigating the death of pop star Michael Jackson have seized documents and computer records from his doctor’s clinic as they narrow their focus in what could become a criminal probe.

US government investigators raided the offices of Michael Jackson's doctor in search of evidence of manslaughter, the medic's lawyer said.

Federal investigators today searched the offices of Michael Jackson’s doctor for medical records as part of their probe into the singer’s death.

Michael Jackson's doctor is set to seek custody of his two eldest children.

Further details concerning the extent of Michael Jackson’s medication intake emerged today with reports that he ordered staff to get him prescription drugs and travelled to other states to obtain more pills.

Michael Jackson’s father insisted today that “foul play” had been involved in the singer’s death.

Friends and family of Michael Jackson had grown increasingly concerned over the pop star’s use of heavy medication in the last years of his life, it emerged today.

Madonna paid tribute to Michael Jackson as she described him as one of the greatest performers the world has ever known.

THE clamour for tickets for Michael Jackson’s public memorial began last night but the singer’s British and Irish fans will be left disappointed.

A public memorial will be held to mourn Michael Jackson at the venue of the singer’s final rehearsals, it was announced.

FOOTAGE of Michael Jackson performing some of his most famous hits for the final time was released last night.

America’s anti-drugs agency is investigating the death of pop star Michael Jackson, it emerged today.

President Barack Obama offered a spirit of co-operation to America’s hemispheric neighbours at a summit, listening to complaints about past US meddling and even reaching out to Venezuela’s left-wing leader.

Anna Nicole Smith’s lawyer-turned-boyfriend was the principal enabler in a conspiracy with two doctors to provide the “known addict” thousands of prescription pills in the months before she died of an overdose, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said.

Mary-Kate Olsen has been subpoenaed to testify in front of a Grand Jury as investigators hope to end the mystery surrounding Heath Ledger's drug overdose death.

US government prosecutors have dropped the investigation into how actor Heath Ledger obtained two painkillers that contributed to his fatal overdose, a law enforcement official said today.

US GOVERNMENT investigators want to question actress Mary Kate Olsen about how Heath Ledger got two painkillers that contributed to his overdose death, according to a law enforcement official.