Drugs & Alcohol

Philip Seymour Hoffman's death appears to be heroin-related ... and law enforcement is looking at a deadly strain of the drug as one of the operating theories ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... they do NOT know specifics about the heroin found in the NYC apartment where Seymour died. There were 10 bags found -- 8 of them empty.

Authorities have been tracking a strain of heroin that has killed dozens of people on the East Coast -- just last month. The heroin is laced with fentanyl, an extremely potent drug prescribed for terminal cancer patients. The strain is 100 times more powerful than morphine ... it sometimes shuts down the respiratory system.

The drug -- sometimes called "Theraflu," "Bud Ice" and "24K" -- has been linked to 5 deaths on Long Island, 22 deaths in Pennsylvania and 19 on Rhode Island -- all in January.

Cops do NOT know if this strain caused Hoffman's death, but they tell us "everything's in play" until they get results from toxicology.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead Sunday in a New York City apartment of an apparent drug overdose ... TMZ has learned authorities found a needle in his arm.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the actor was found Sunday morning inside a Greenwich apartment ... and they're still on scene investigating.

Our sources say ... Hoffman was found in his bathroom in his boxer shorts, with a needle sticking out of his left arm. We're told police found 10 glassine envelopes -- 2 of the envelopes had heroin ... the others presumably were empty.

One of the envelopes had "Ace of Spades" written on it, and another had an ace of hearts symbol -- such symbols and words are often markers from people who make heroin -- to brand it.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Hoffman was supposed to pick up his kids at 9 AM Sunday but didn't show -- which was unusual for him. A playwright and a friend became concerned, came over and found the actor alone in the apartment.

Details surrounding his death are unclear ... but the actor had struggled with drug problems ... most recently checking himself into a rehab facility for heroin back in May.

TMZ broke the story of Hoffman going to rehab. We were told he did it as a preventative measure because he was getting close to a major relapse. A source involved in Hoffman's treatment now tells TMZ ... the actor said at the time he was on the brink of becoming a heroin IV user and wanted to nip it in the bud before that happened.

As we previously reported ... Hoffman had been clean for 23 years but fell off the wagon in 2012.

It appears Hoffman's last interview was at the Sundance Film Festival with XiXi Yang from PopStopTV for his movie "A Wanted Man."

Hoffman's family released a statement saying, "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support."

Law enforcement sources tell us his autopsy will take place Monday.

Some drunk jerk had to be removed from Howard Stern's 60th birthday party Friday night ... after he miserably failed in his attempt to crash the "Wack Pack" V.I.P. section.

"Wack Packer" Joey Boots tells TMZ ... his group consisting of Mary Ann from Brooklyn and Bobo were hassled by the drunken ahole early in the night -- but when he started to break stuff, security quickly sprung into action.

Boots says a female security guard approached the sloshed partier -- but he stupidly got physical ... so, his drunk ass got the ol' heave ho.

The DUI case against Justin Bieber has some big holes -- but law enforcement sources tell us prosecutors will NOT back down and are confident the case is so strong ... Justin will cop a plea.

TMZ broke the story ... although Miami Beach police claimed Justin reeked of booze ... his blood alcohol level was almost imperceptible -- .014.

Sources connected to the case tell us ... prosecutors say the officer who made the observation is a star witness who is one of the most authoritative people in the area on DUI -- and an unimpeachable witness.

There's another hole in the case. Cops claimed Justin was drag racing, yet we've obtained the GPS read on his car and it actually shows in the middle of the so-called drag race he was going 27 MPH -- UNDER the 30 MPH speed limit.

Our sources say they're not buying the GPS read out and they have their own GPS which they believe will show a higher rate of speed.

We're told Bieber has just been released by Custom's officials ... after 5-hours of heavy grilling.

Justin Bieber was flagged by U.S. Customs officials when he landed in New Jersey this afternoon because he has 2 pending criminal cases ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Bieber is still being grilled by Customs people ... after they searched his plane because they allegedly smelled weed. The search turned up nothing.

We're told -- as a result of the Patriot Act -- Customs officials have broad power to flag people coming in from another country when they have an active criminal case or a conviction. Justin currently has an assault case in Canada and a DUI case in Miami Beach.

Sources say Bieber is being "put through the grinder" right now by Customs folks. As one source said, "Once you're flagged it's a grueling process to get in the country."

It's almost certain Justin will eventually be cleared to leave Teterboro Airport because both alleged offenses are minor.

Lil Za has been charged with 3 FELONIES in connection with the Justin Bieber raid last week ... TMZ has learned.

The L.A. County D.A. has charged Za with 2 counts of felony possession of a controlled substance -- MDMA (Ecstasy) and Oxycodone. He's also been charged with a felony for breaking the jail phone.

As we first reported ... cops found the drugs near Za as they executed the search warrant on Bieber's home ... looking for video evidence linking the singer to the egg attack on his neighbor.

5:45 PM PT We're told Bieber has just been released.

5:03 PM PT -- We were just told Bieber is still being questioned -- and everyone has ordered out for pizza. Cops tell us ... it's gonna be a while.

2:55 PM PT -- TMZ has learned Justin is now being held and questioned by U.S. Customs officials.

12:59 PM PT -- We're told all passengers were released. No drugs were found.

Justin Bieber's private jet touched down outside NYC for the Super Bowl -- and authorities immediately held him for questioning ... because of a strong odor of pot coming from his plane ... TMZ has learned.

We're told ... the plane was stopped after it arrived at Teterboro airport in New Jersey. As we told you ... Justin, his dad and some friends were traveling there for Super Bowl parties.

Sources tell us law enforcement is holding the plane ... because they think there may be marijuana on board. We're told the plane and the passengers are currently being searched ... but so far no pot has been found.

A source close to Bieber tells us, the passengers knew they'd be searched ... since they were flying into the U.S. from Canada.

Stone Cold Steve Austin just threatened to open a can of WHOOP-ASS all over Justin Bieber ... warning the pop star that if he doesn't straighten up, he's gonna catch a Size 13 in his ass.

The former WWE champ was on "The Arsenio Hall Show" last night when he issued the ultimatum -- shape up ... or else.

Stone Cold says he loves kids ... and just wants to make sure Justin gets on the right path before it's too late -- but he thinks an ass-kickin' is the only thing that'll get through to the Biebs.

Justin Bieber isn't letting 3 criminal investigations in 2 countries cramp his style ... he's just gone wheels up -- with the Super Bowl as the final destination ... TMZ has learned.

Bieber chartered a private jet Friday from Canada for the big game on Sunday. He's in the air right now.

We're told Justin's planning to attend some pre-game parties, and he brought along some friends for the ride ... and his dad.

TMZ has obtained GPS records from the rented Lambo Justin Bieber was driving when he was arrested for DUI ... and there is NO evidence of drag racing.

TMZ broke the story ... Miami Beach cops claimed they noticed Bieber and his buddy Khalil (who drove a red Ferrari) drag racing and that's why they were stopped. Cops claimed they were going between 55 and 60 MPH.

But the GPS on Justin's car records speed when the car accelerates quickly. Take a look at the read-out. At 4:07 AM Justin left the club and zoomed away ... reaching a maximum speed of 44 MPH. Two minutes later the GPS registered at a max speed of 27 MPH.

Here's why the read-out is so significant. Cops claim they noticed the drag race on the 2600 block of Pine Tree Drive. Bieber came to a stop and was then arrested on the 4100 block. The 27 MPH read out is on the 3700 block ... smack in the middle of the supposed drag race. Mind you ... 27 MPH is UNDER the 30 MPH speed limit.

If Justin had been racing ... the GPS would have recorded a higher speed. Yet the maximum speed on Pine Tree was 27 MPH.

Now check this out. The cops say 2 Escalades were stopped on Pine Tree to block traffic so Bieber and his buddy could drag race. We obtained the GPS for one of the Escalades (below) which shows at 2:35 AM the SUV stopped -- and that's when Bieber's dad (who was in the Escalade) went inside the nightclub with his son. They were there for 1.2 hours.

At 4:06 AM the Escalade started rolling and it didn't stop again until Bieber was pulled over. So it never stopped to accommodate a so-called drag race.

Senator Marco Rubio has got big fish to fry ... nonetheless, he's kinda worried about Justin Bieber.

Rubio stopped in the Dirksen Senate Office Bldg in Washington D.C. to chew the fat with us ... and the father of 4 has a clear view that the Biebs is in trouble and needs help.

The winner of Super Bowl XLVIII is NOT allowed to party with champagne ... or beer ... or any other form of alcohol ... so says the NFL.

TMZ Sports has learned ... unlike the MLB (or any other major sport), the NFL has a very strict policy against booze in the locker room ... which means, NO POPPIN' BOTTLES!!

A rep for the league tells us ... the rule goes all the way back to the 1960s and the NFL has decided to continue to enforce it because it's "not the right image" for the league.

Good news for Seahawks and Broncos fans planning on lighting up a super bowl of ganja this Sunday ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned, pot stores are now selling CUSTOMIZED WEED for the big game.

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Denver and Seattle -- the only two cities in the country where you can toke up recreationally -- are actually selling Super Bowl themed pot.

You can smoke "Richard Sherman OG" from Rain City Medical in Seattle -- which will also be passing out Seahawks colored weed-infused popcorn to munch on during the game.

Meanwhile, Kind Meds dispensary in Denver is featuring a "Big Bad Broncos" strain ... "Agent Orange Kush" ... and even "Bruised Seahawks" -- so Broncos fans can literally smoke the opposition.

And for the stoners who aren't into Bruno Mars ... both stores are offering half-price specials at half-time -- in case anyone needs to stock up during the game.

Lindsay Lohan has no problem collecting a paycheck from convicted cocaine smugglers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Lindsay tell us ... it's inconceivable that she'd bail out of the film, "Inconceivable" ... despite reports the money men -- who've backed several Hollywood movies, including "Lone Survivor" with Mark Wahlberg -- were convicted of coke trafficking.

L.A. Weekly reported the men -- Remington Chase and Stepan Martirosyan -- were convicted in 1993. There were even allegations they put a hit out on a guy in Moscow.

Our Lindsay source tells us ... she was in the dark about the guys until recently ... but she's never run from coke before ... so she's doing the movie -- period.

Here's her thinking -- film financing is a business matter and of no concern to an actor.

Vanessa Hudgens is so aggressively cutting ties with her Disney past ... that she's using the mouse house -- and her smoking hot body -- to push high grade marijuana.

The next Mickey Mouse Club reunion is gonna be fuuuuuun!

The high-end, coke-fueled prostitution ring that was just busted on the high heels of Super Bowl weekend was comprised of a small army of Asian hookers ... who take credit cards.

NY officials say the prostitutes had their eyes set on Seahawks and Broncos fans who were coming in for the game.

Officials say the ring made millions, with the help of pimps who fronted phony businesses to funnel the sex profits. The businesses included wig shops, a beauty supply store and a limo company.

Johns were paying up to $10K a night for hookers and blow. The customers would do drugs and become impaired ... and the girls would then figure out ways of fleecing them by charging even more.

All of the women nailed -- in what NYPD calls Operation Shade of Beige -- are Asian, and used Korean code words to mask the drug deal. One code name for coke -- Soojaebi ... a Korean noodle and vegetable soup.

Mmmm Mmmm bad.