Greater Middle East

Yemen war fuels dope-for-guns trade

Both sides in Yemen's bitter Sunni-Shi'ite divide—equally intolerant of hashish-smokers and khat-chewers—are turning to the dope trade to fund their arsenals.

The Andes

Colombia: manhunt for paramilitary warlord

Authorities in Colombia are carrying out a manhunt Dario Antonio Usuga AKA "Otoniel"—the biggest since the campaign that brought down the legendary Pablo Escobar in 1993.

The Andes

Chemical in Colombia spraying called carcinogen

The World Health Organization reclassified the herbicide glyphosate as a cancer threat—big news in Colombia, where the government sprays millions of acres to eradicate coca.

The Andes

Colombia: peace efforts bear (tentative) fruit

Colombians made history as tens of thousands took to the streets in cities and towns nationwide to show their support for peace talks between the government and FARC guerillas.

The Andes

Colombia: peasants detain troops… again

A detachment of some 20 special anti-narcotics agents of the National Police were detained by indigenous peasants at the hamlet of Alto Naya, in Colombia's Cauca region.

Southeast Asia

Burma opium war spills into China

After weeks of escalating tensions along the remote mountain border, a Burmese MiG-29 fighter jet carried out an air-strike on Chinese territory, killing four farm workers. 

Mexico

Mexico’s notorious ‘Z-42’ busted

Mexican authorities announced the capture of Omar Treviño AKA "Z-42"—leader of Los Zetas, the ultra-violent narco-paramilitary network that has long terrorized the country.

Mexico

Mexico: Knights Templar jefe busted

Mexican authoritie announced the capture of the country's most-wanted drug lord, Servando Gómez AKA "La Tuta"—boss of Michoacán's feared Knights Templar cartel.

The Andes

US troops to Peru’s coca zone

A force of US Marines has been mobilized to Peru's conflicted coca-growing jungle region, the Valley of the Apurímac and Ene Rivers, to assist in interdiction efforts.