10,000 Packages of Marijuana Seized on Tijuana/US Border

We are all more than familiar with the ongoing drug war being waged in Mexico and the fact it is spilling over into the southwestern United States.  The news is constantly dotted with headlines about the latest violence to erupt on Mexican soil.

So, it wasn't anything new to read that a shootout took place in Tijuana between members of the drug cartels and law enforcement.  However, it was surprising to read the amount of marijuana that was confiscated following the shootout:  10,000 packages totaling more than 105 tons!  The drugs are worth over $330 million on the Mexican market and as much as twice that if taken across the border and sold in the United States.

Soldiers and police arrested eleven people following the shootout between Tijuana policemen and gunmen in a convoy of seven vehicles.  The drug violence in Mexico has claimed almost 30,000 lives.

For more information and to see a photo of the massive amount of weed confiscated by authorities, you can refer to this article.

Smuggled Tortoises and Frogs Seized in Malaysia

In mid, July, two Malagasy women were arrested after attempting to smuggle almost 400 rare Madagascar tortoises and more than 40 tomato frogs in their luggage through the Kuala Lumpur airport.  This is the second time smuggled animals have been discovered by officials in just a month.  The Radiated and Ploughshare tortoises and frogs were destined for pet shops or to be used as food.

The Radiated and Ploughshare tortoises recently discovered in Kuala Lumpur are extremely rare.  The trade of exotic animals is highly illegal and highly profitable, thus, it is thriving.  Madagascar is a prime source of profitable fare as the animals and plants on the island are, for the most part, unique only to Madagascar. 

For more information you can read an article from BBC News.

Sydney, Australia: Ninja's to the Rescue!

File this under the "does it get any cooler than this" section.

On May 20, 2010, the Sydney Morning Herald in Sydney, Australia reported that a 27 year-old German medical exchange student was viciously assaulted by muggers.  That might not have been a story that would have caught many eyes had it not been for the student's unlikely rescuers:  ninjas.

Yes, you read that right, ninjas.  The student was being mugged in an alleyway adjacent to a ninja warrior school, Ninja Senshi Ryu.  Kaylan Soto, the school's sensai instructed his students to confront the muggers attacking the German student.  The students, in full black ninja garb did so and have become hero's in Sydney.

First, I have to say this is super cool.  Ninjas! 

Second, can you imagine what went through the muggers minds when they saw all of these black-garbed ninja warriors heading for them?  I'm sure that next time they decide to mug some poor soul they will be sure to pay special notice that they aren't around a ninja warrior school! 

Kudos to Sensai Soto and his students for teaching the muggers a lesson they hopefully will not forget anytime soon.

You can read a bit more about this at Yahoo! News.  There's a photo of three of the green belt ninja warriors from the Ninja Senshi Ryu on The Province.com web site.