Funding Cartels: The Fentanyl Fight | CBS Reports
CBS Reports goes into a cartel stronghold in Mexico to uncover what’s behind the surge in fentanyl trafficking and why America is failing to stop it.
Smuggling
Project Thor sets sights on gun smuggling
As gun-running networks help arm Mexican drug cartel members, an intelligence program called "Project Thor" seeks to stop the flow of firearms. Adam Yamaguchi takes an in-depth look at the program and how it works.
Inside Mexican/American gunrunning networks
An intricate network of American gun smugglers, some as far north as Alaska, have been helping to move millions of weapons across the southern border and into the hands of drug cartel members. Adam Yamaguchi takes an in-depth look at how these guns are being moved.
4 men arrested in 2022 Texas smuggling deaths of 53 migrants
The incident is believed to be the deadliest human smuggling case in modern U.S. history.
Stolen cars trafficked across U.S. border
Mexican cartels and international smuggling rings target American vehicles for profit or to use in other crimes, CBS News consumer correspondent Ash-har Quraishi reports.
Chirping sounds lead airport officials to bag full of smuggled parrot eggs
At just 9 weeks old, the parrots survived a harrowing journey after being snatched from their nests in a forest.
How Russia's Wagner group exploits Africa to fund the Ukraine war
Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner army has been key to Putin's war on Ukraine. CBS News' has discovered how it's paid for by "profiteering" in Africa.
American Airlines mechanic convicted of stashing cocaine under jet cockpit
The mechanic could face up to 20 years in prison for possession, smuggling and conspiracy.
U.S. citizen tried to export 5,680 rounds of ammunition into Mexico
Jesus Alberto Olivarez, a U.S. citizen, was on his way to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico when authorities found a total of 5,680 live rounds of pistol ammunition hidden in Olivarez's PT cruiser.
U.S., Canada agree to share data on guns, drug smuggling
Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Ottawa signed four new or updated agreements with Washington.
3 family members charged with human smuggling, forced labor at Massachusetts restaurants
The men were first charged by authorities in October, but new charges were announced in April.
Six people found dead in marsh near Canada's U.S. border
Local police noted in January that people involved in human smuggling had attempted to utilize shorelines along the St. Lawrence River in the area.
Nigerian politician convicted in "horrific" U.K. organ harvesting case
The senior prosecutor in the case said the couple involved, along with a U.K. doctor found guilty alongside them, had shown "utter disregard for the victim's welfare."
Whole families among victims who paid $8K each for "voyage of death"
At least 64 people, including eight children, died when their overcrowded wooden boat slammed into shoals just a few hundred yards off Italy's coast.
Eye on America: High grocery costs and more
We go from the market to the farm to find out why the cost of groceries remains high. And we visit San Diego to see how law enforcement is working to stop fentanyl from being smuggled into the country. Watch these stories and more on "Eye on America" with host Michelle Miller.
Authorities rescue 43 migrants found packed into a van in Bulgaria
The rescue came just days after 18 people who were crammed into a lumber truck, "pressed against each other like in a tin can," were found dead.
New Hampshire man charged in Russian smuggling ring
A New Hampshire man has been indicted on federal charges for his alleged involvement in a Russian smuggling ring. Brendan McCarthy, a deputy projects editor for The Boston Globe, joined CBS News to discuss the case.
Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg gets 11 years for sex trafficking of minor
Greenberg's arrest led to a federal probe into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.
At least 3 men shot; 9 detained in suspected human smuggling incident
Investigators are still unsure exactly where the shooting took place.
Brittney Griner appealing her case in Russia
In Russia, jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner is appealing her drug smuggling conviction. She was appearing via a video feed from a women’s detention center outside moscow. The judge's verdict is expected Tuesday as well. The high-stakes race for Senate in Pennsylvania will see Democrat John Fetterman facing off with his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz in their first and only debate. And the White House says President Biden will be speaking with Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak in the coming days.
Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison
A Russian court found WNBA star Brittney Griner guilty of deliberately smuggling drugs into the country and sentenced her to nine years in prison. President Biden denounced the verdict. Attention now turns to the possibility of a high-stakes prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia. Nancy Cordes has the details.
CBS Evening News, August 4, 2022
Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison; Minor league players live in retirement community during baseball season
47 Texas migrant truck victims now identified, including a 13-year-old
The tedious process of identification continues, but some families have already confirmed their losses.
Migrant semi-trailer survivor reveals what may have saved her life
Speaking by phone from her hospital bed, 20-year-old Yenifer Yulisa Cardona Tomás said "people were yelling, some cried."
Parents pray missing teens not among 53 found dead in tractor-trailer
Parents are re-reading last messages, swiping through photos, waiting for a phone call and praying.
Latest News
Watch Live: Top House Republicans hold first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing
The first impeachment inquiry hearing into President Biden is taking place days before the government is set to shut down.
COVID vaccine during pregnancy still helps protect newborns, CDC finds
The findings are just the latest to show benefits from COVID vaccination during pregnancy.
Biden honors John McCain, highlighting battle for the "soul of America"
President Biden used the remarks to speak about the state of democracy, which he said "all of us are being asked right now to maintain."
McCarthy vows to move forward with House stopgap bill despite GOP holdouts
"Does that mean you just don't want to govern?" House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said of GOP holdouts who are against passing a short-term measure to keep the government open.
How to see the harvest supermoon
September's full moon, also known as the harvest moon, will be the last of four consecutive supermoons.
Florida teen struck by lightning while hunting with her dad has died
Baylee Holbrook, 16, and her father were hit after lightning struck a tree late Tuesday afternoon, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
Actor Michael Gambon, who played Harry Potter's Dumbledore, dies at 82
Michael Gambon, the British-Irish actor who portrayed Dumbledore in the latter 6 of the 8 "Harry Potter" movies, has died after a bout of pneumonia.
2 bodies found in search for pilot instructor and student after crash
The bodies were found Thursday morning after a drone located a debris field, Trooper Corey King said in a tweet, after the plane was reported missing on Wednesday.
Costco is selling gold bars, and they're selling out within hours
Costco said it's now selling 1-ounce gold bars, but can't keep them in stock because of strong demand.
U.S.
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Yelp sues Texas to keep crisis pregnancy center description labels
Yelp is suing to defend how it labels crisis pregnancy centers to indicate that they do not provide abortions.
Tropical Storm Philippe and Tropical Storm Rina could merge, NHC says
Track forecasts for Philippe and Rina were uncertain Thursday as forecasters noted the two tropical storms could potentially "interact."
Florida teen struck by lightning while hunting with her dad has died
Baylee Holbrook, 16, and her father were hit after lightning struck a tree late Tuesday afternoon, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
CVS pharmacists walking off the job to protest working conditions
CVS Health pharmacists are being run ragged by insufficient staff and corporate quotas that jeopardize patient safety, protest organizers claim.
McCarthy vows to move forward with House stopgap bill despite GOP holdouts
"Does that mean you just don't want to govern?" House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said of GOP holdouts who are against passing a short-term measure to keep the government open.
MoneyWatch
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Yelp sues Texas to keep crisis pregnancy center description labels
Yelp is suing to defend how it labels crisis pregnancy centers to indicate that they do not provide abortions.
CVS pharmacists walking off the job to protest working conditions
CVS Health pharmacists are being run ragged by insufficient staff and corporate quotas that jeopardize patient safety, protest organizers claim.
Top 10 internet creators, according to Forbes
Forbes has released its list of top creators – 50 internet personalities who have earned an estimated $700 million combined. Here's how much the top 10 earned.
Homes "unaffordable" in 99% of nation for average American
Home prices have jumped so much that Americans must pay a third of their income on housing, according to one study.
Costco is selling gold bars, and they're selling out within hours
Costco said it's now selling 1-ounce gold bars, but can't keep them in stock because of strong demand.
Politics
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Yelp sues Texas to keep crisis pregnancy center description labels
Yelp is suing to defend how it labels crisis pregnancy centers to indicate that they do not provide abortions.
McCarthy vows to move forward with House stopgap bill despite GOP holdouts
"Does that mean you just don't want to govern?" House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said of GOP holdouts who are against passing a short-term measure to keep the government open.
Biden honors John McCain, highlighting battle for the "soul of America"
President Biden used the remarks to speak about the state of democracy, which he said "all of us are being asked right now to maintain."
House Republicans outline basis for Biden impeachment inquiry in first hearing
Top Republicans outlined their view of the factual and legal basis for an impeachment inquiry into President Biden in a 30-page memo.
Trump criticizes Biden, Democrats, automakers over electric vehicles
Former President Trump addressed many of his remarks to UAW workers who were not in the room where he was speaking.
HealthWatch
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CVS pharmacists walking off the job to protest working conditions
CVS Health pharmacists are being run ragged by insufficient staff and corporate quotas that jeopardize patient safety, protest organizers claim.
COVID vaccine during pregnancy still helps protect newborns, CDC finds
The findings are just the latest to show benefits from COVID vaccination during pregnancy.
Who polices cross-market hospital mergers? States differ on answers.
Hospitals are merging across separate markets within states, resulting in higher patient bills with no improvement in care, evidence shows.
FDA panel votes against experimental ALS treatment pushed by patients
Federal health advisors voted 17-1 against an experimental treatment for Lou Gehrig's disease dubbed NurOwn, although the FDA is not bound by the vote.
Florida man is bitten by a rabid otter. How is rabies treated?
After the attack in Jupiter, Florida, animal control picked up the otter and it tested positive for rabies, a disease that can be fatal. Here's how it is handled.
World
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"Critical state": Swiss glaciers lose 10% of their volume in 2 years
Switzerland's alpine glaciers have lost as much ice in 2 years as they did in the 30 leading up to 1990, a sign of the climate's "critical state," one scientist says.
Police raids across Germany as decades-old neo-Nazi group is banned
Germany's Interior Minister called Artgemeinschaft "deeply racist and antisemitic" and accused it of trying "to raise new enemies of the constitution."
Family looking for lost earring instead finds Viking-era burial treasures
The family was looking for a lost gold earring in their garden, but instead they found artifacts dating back more than 1,000 years, officials said.
Taiwan unveils 1st domestically made submarine amid tension with China
Taiwan touts "self-reliant national defense policy" as it unveils first domestically-made submarine, while China says the island is "over-rating itself."
German police launch probe over apparent Nazi salutes at Oktoberfest
Police in the German state of Saxony are investigating after a video showed several people appear to give the Nazi "Heil Hitler" salute at an Oktoberfest event.
Entertainment
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Top 10 internet creators, according to Forbes
Forbes has released its list of top creators – 50 internet personalities who have earned an estimated $700 million combined. Here's how much the top 10 earned.
Ed Sheeran "pre-looked" at couple getting married before crashing wedding
Ed Sheeran is gearing up for the release of his latest album, "Autumn Variations," which is set to drop on Friday.
U2 prepares to open new Las Vegas residency at Sphere
U2 is set to make history Friday as the first band ever to take the stage at Sphere, a cutting-edge spherical venue that graces the Las Vegas skyline.
Ed Sheeran describes crashing Vegas wedding
Ed Sheeran surprised a bride and groom with a performance of "Magical" at their Las Vegas wedding. The new song is on his latest album, "Autumn Variations," which is out Friday. Sheeran sat down with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King for an exclusive interview.
Ed Sheeran describes crashing Vegas wedding
Ed Sheeran surprised a bride and groom with a performance of "Magical" at their Las Vegas wedding. The new song is on his latest album, "Autumn Variations," which is out Friday. Sheeran sat down with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King for an exclusive interview.
Technology
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Technology
OpenAI's ChatGPT gets new advancements
ChatGPT has become even more advanced in its ability to inform and interact with users. OpenAI confirmed Wednesday the artificial intelligence-powered system can now browse the internet to provide users with the most up-to-date information when previously it only used data up to September 2021. OpenAI also announced this week that ChatGPT can now "see, hear, and speak" with users through newly rolled-out features. Kyle Wiggers, senior enterprise reporter at TechCrunch, joined CBS News to talk about the updates.
GameStop appoints Chewy founder Ryan Cohen as chief executive
The billionaire will not receive compensation for serving as the company's president, CEO and chairman, GameStop said.
Meta rolls out new AI, VR technologies
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg kicked off the tech giant's developer conference Wednesday, saying the company is focused on virtual and augmented reality as well as artificial intelligence technologies. Notable new additions include an AI personal assistant people can interact with using any of Meta's messaging apps. Will Knight, senior writer at Wired, joined CBS News to discuss the conference and what happened to Threads.
How to stay safe online, according to CISA
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency -- or CISA -- has launched its first nationwide public service announcement. The PSA aims to teach Americans basic cybersecurity habits in order to stay safe online. Jen Easterly, CISA director, joins CBS News to share tips on how you can protect yourself while using the internet.
Amazon Alexa becoming more humanlike with AI
Amazon's Alexa is getting an upgrade. The so-called Alexa LLM will be able to understand body language, including gestures and eye contact, and should be smarter and more conversational thanks to AI. Jon Swartz, senior tech reporter for MarketWatch, joined CBS News to discuss the new version of Amazon's virtual assistant.
Science
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Family looking for lost earring instead finds Viking-era burial treasures
The family was looking for a lost gold earring in their garden, but instead they found artifacts dating back more than 1,000 years, officials said.
Scientists take step toward "being able to resurrect extinct species"
"People didn't think it could really be done," Marc Friedländer, an associate professor in molecular biology at Stockholm University, told CBS News.
Scientists recover RNA from extinct species
For the first time, scientists in Sweden have analyzed an extinct animal's RNA. They're studying the Tasmanian tiger which has been extinct since the 1930s. Marc Friedländer, associate professor in molecular biology at Stockholm University, joins CBS News to discuss what the breakthrough means for science.
Tropical storm warnings along East Coast
What could soon be Tropical Storm Ophelia is moving closer to the U.S. East Coast, the National Hurricane Center said, and a tropical storm warning is in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Fenwick Island, Delaware. CBS News Baltimore's Janay Reece has an update on how locals there are preparing for the storm. And Lynette Charles, meteorologist for The Weather Channel, has a forecast for where the storms could be most severe.
Wildfire smoke reversing U.S. air improvement
Since 2016, wildfire smoke in the U.S. has reversed roughly 25% of air quality improvements made from the 2000 Clean Air Act, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. That figure doubles to roughly 50% when looking specifically at the impact on many western states. For more on this, CBS News was joined by Marshall Burke, an associate professor at Stanford's Doerr School of Sustainability and a co-author of the study.
Crime
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Remains of missing Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew found in Moffat
The remains of missing Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew have been found more than 3 years after she was last seen.
Feds: Man hauled more than 30 pounds of fentanyl through NYC subway
Authorities announced Thursday the seizure of more than 40 pounds of the deadly drug fentanyl in the Bronx.
Man arrested in Baltimore tech CEO's killing
Authorities have arrested a man accused of murdering Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere. Officials took Jason Billingsley, a convicted sex offender, into custody Wednesday night. LaPere's body was discovered Monday in her apartment complex after she was reported missing. CBS News homeland security and justice reporter Nicole Sganga has more.
6 bodies, 1 wounded survivor found after 7 youths kidnapped in Mexico
Six bodies were discovered in an area of Mexico where seven youths were kidnapped days earlier, authorities said.
Arrest made in murder of Baltimore tech CEO Pava LaPere
Police say they're going to hold a news conference to announce the arrest of Jason Billingsley in the killing of the 26-year-old.
Space
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Space
Investigating space tourism safety regulation
As new space tour companies change the way we can see our world, a moratorium on spaceflight regulation and participant safety has come to the forefront. In the latest CBS Reports documentary, Mark Strassmann takes a close look at the next great leap for humankind -- and whether regulators and industry stakeholders are striking the right balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring safety.
3 space station crew members back on Earth after U.S.-record year in space
Descent from the International Space Station closed out an unexpected 371-day stay, the longest flight in U.S. space history.
How to see the harvest supermoon
September's full moon, also known as the harvest moon, will be the last of four consecutive supermoons.
NASA astronaut closing out record-setting yearlong space station flight
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is finishing up the longest single flight in U.S. space history at 371 days.
Why NASA retrieved samples from an asteroid
NASA is celebrating the successful end of a 7-year, $1 billion mission to collect and return a sample from the asteroid Bennu. CBS News' Mark Strassmann has more on the mission. And Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute, joined CBS News to discuss the significance of the samples.
Latest Galleries
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The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh
Inside South Carolina's "trial of the century" — how investigators built their case
Young witness found herself at the scene of a crime
What Angelina Fernandes saw the night her mother was accused of murder.
Notable Deaths in 2023
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Chandler Halderson case: An inside look
How prosecutors made the case that the Wisconsin man killed his parents Bart and Krista Halderson in July 2021.
Crime scene photos: NYC sledgehammer attack
On Nov. 11, 2012, Jake Nolan accompanied his psychiatrist cousin to a NYC Home Depot where she purchased a sledgehammer; 24 hours later, it became a key piece of evidence in a crime that ended with Nolan and her ex-lover in the hospital.
Latest Videos
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Space Tourism: The Next Great Leap | CBS Reports
In the aftermath of the Titan submersible tragedy, extreme travel has come under fresh scrutiny. But one industry stands out for both its allure and the lack of regulation protecting participants' safety: space tourism. CBS Reports explores the next great leap for humankind and whether regulators and industry stakeholders are striking the right balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring safety.
How impeaching a president works
The House on Thursday held the first hearing in an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden. Over the past few years, the House twice launched probes that led to the impeachment of former President Donald Trump, though he was not convicted by the Senate. CBS News' Errol Barnett has a look at how the process works.
OpenAI's ChatGPT gets new advancements
ChatGPT has become even more advanced in its ability to inform and interact with users. OpenAI confirmed Wednesday the artificial intelligence-powered system can now browse the internet to provide users with the most up-to-date information when previously it only used data up to September 2021. OpenAI also announced this week that ChatGPT can now "see, hear, and speak" with users through newly rolled-out features. Kyle Wiggers, senior enterprise reporter at TechCrunch, joined CBS News to talk about the updates.
Tracking the impact of interest rate hikes
The average interest rate on a credit card in November 2021 was 16.4%. As of September, the average credit card interest rate is nearly 24.5%. Javier David, managing editor at Axios, joined CBS News to discuss other ways rising interest rates are putting pressure on Americans.
Congress playing blame game on shutdown
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are sharply divided over averting a government shutdown with just days away from the deadline. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is pushing his colleagues to get behind a short-term spending bill, but multiple hard-right House Republicans say they won't support it. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane has more.