A controversial new law decriminalising the possession of small amounts of heroin, marijuana, cocaine and other illicit substances has quietly slipped on to the statute books in Mexico.

Counter sales of cold tablets that use pseudoephedrine will be banned if a recommendation by PM's chief science adviser is followed.

199 people were searched at a combined Department of Corrections and police checkpoint at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo on Saturday.

Army officer lets his tired and hungry soldiers keep cache of drug dollars found buried in the Colombian mountains.

Gangs involved in the fall of socialite Lynne Carter have been slammed as "bloody evil bastards" by police minister Judith Collins.