Labubu dolls worth $30K stolen in California, found by police
CHINO, Aug 13: Southern California police recovered approximately $30,000 worth of Labubu collectible dolls stolen from a warehouse in Chino, the department announced this week.
The theft occurred over several days and involved two underage warehouse employees as suspects. Officers found 14 boxes of the stolen merchandise at a home in Upland, along with evidence that the dolls were being prepared for resale and shipping across the US.
One suspect attempted to flee during the search but later surrendered, while the other was arrested in a nearby city.
Both were booked into juvenile hall in San Bernardino County on burglary-related charges.
The Labubu dolls, designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and sold by China’s Pop Mart, have seen a surge in popularity.
The case follows a separate incident in Los Angeles County, where about $7,000 worth of Labubu dolls were stolen from a store in La Puente, prompting ongoing investigations. (AP)
One of world’s most polluted city tries plastic ban
LAGOS (NIGERIA), Aug 13: Lagos, Nigeria, is one of the world’s most plastic-polluted urban areas, with over 20 million people contributing 870,000 tonnes of the world’s 57 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2024.
Lagos state authorities imposed a ban on single-use plastics, such as cutlery, plates, and straws, but residents argue weak enforcement and lack of alternatives have weakened its effectiveness.
The ban is far from being fully implemented, as some shops still display Styrofoam packs. A global treaty on plastics is negotiating in Geneva, but talks broke down last year due to opposition from oil-producing countries.
Lagos generates at least 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, almost a fifth of which is plastic, and most ends up in waterways, clogging canals, polluting beaches, and contributing to devastating floods. Private waste managers and sustainability groups are helping to manage the pollution, but more work is needed. Manufacturers and residents need to adopt behavioral changes to ensure the effectiveness of the ban on single-use plastics. (AP)
