Recent Crimes and Controversies Make Headlines

Residents on South Korea's Jeju island have been finding packs of ketamine, disguised as Chinese tea, washing ashore. Over 28kg of the drug have been discovered in the last two months, prompting authorities to form a team to investigate how the drugs entered the country. The Jeju Coast Guard is warning residents not to touch suspicious objects and is working to trace the source of the drugs, which may have drifted to Jeju via ocean currents. Experts suggest that a larger syndicate may be behind the ketamine packets, using a 'sea bump' method to transport narcotics. Locals are concerned about the presence of illicit drugs on their coastlines, with some calling for authorities to focus on stopping more drugs from drifting in.

Malaysian rapper Namewee was released on bail on November 24 pending the results of an autopsy into the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, who was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur on October 22. Namewee was named a 'person of interest' in the investigation and was believed to be the last person with Hsieh before she died. He has denied any wrongdoing and maintained his innocence. The investigation will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor's office after the autopsy. Namewee has a history of controversy, having been blacklisted by Beijing in 2021 and detained in Malaysia in 2016 for allegedly insulting Islam.

The wife of Michael Duarte, a social media influencer known for his barbecue recipes, has spoken out after his death in a police shooting in Texas. Jessica Duarte shared a tribute to her husband on his Instagram account, praising his legacy and criticizing 'false narratives' surrounding his death. Duarte was killed by a Medina County sheriff's deputy after allegedly threatening to 'kill everyone' with a knife during an altercation. The incident has sparked an outpouring of love from Duarte's BBQ community, with his wife saying she is struggling to come to terms with his loss.

Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales has denied rumors of an affair with his congressional aide Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by self-immolation in September. Gonzales, a married father of six, made the denial at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, stating that the rumors were 'completely untruthful' and that Santos-Aviles' family had asked for privacy. Santos-Aviles, 35, worked as a Regional Director in Gonzales' office since November 2021 and was found badly burned in her Uvalde, Texas home on September 13. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Bexar County Medical Examiner. The Daily Mail had reported that Santos-Aviles had separated from her husband and had an affair with Gonzales, but Santos-Aviles' family denied this, calling the report 'completely false.' Gonzales stated that he was waiting for officials to rule out any criminal conduct before speaking out about the tragedy.