Mexico
Michoacán: ex-vigilantes register weapons
Mexico's government started to swear in members of the "community police" vigilante network in Michoacán for a new rural police force—but fears persist over accountability.
Tag: narco wars
Mexico
Mexico: more narco-mineral exports seized
Mexican authorities seized a ship carrying 68,000 tons of illegal iron ore bound for China—hailed as the latest blow against the drug cartels' contraband mineral sideline.
Southern Cone
Rio: favela violence spills into Copacabana
An uprising in a favela on hills overlooking the famed Copacabana beach spilled over into the posh tourist district below. Is Rio's "pacification" campaign backfiring?
The Andes
May Day mining disaster in Colombia
An unknown number of miners—perhaps as many as 40—were buried alive as an illegal gold mine collapsed at El Palmar, in Colombia's southern region of Cauca.
Southern Cone
Brazil: riot rocks Rio favela
Military Police occupied the favela, or shantytown of Caramujo outside Río de Janeiro following riots sparked by the death of two local youths in incidents with the security forces.
Central America
Central America: ‘narco-deforestation’?
Central America's rainforests are being destroyed by drug traffickers who cut roads and airstirps on officially protected lands, according to a paper in the journal Science.
Southern Cone
Rio de Janeiro: military operation against favelas
Brazilian Military Police backed by Marine troops occupied the massive Maré favela next to Rio de Janeiro's airport in a major clean-up operation ahead of the World Cup.
The Andes
Colombia: pressure grows to expand drug decrim
An official from the capital district government of Bogotá called upon Colombia’s national government to open debate on broadening the policy of drug decriminalization.
The Andes
Bolivia: cocaleros clash with eradication force
Coca-growers in Bolivia's lowland jungle town of Yapacaní clashed with police in a protest against the construction of a new base of the feared Mobile Rural Patrol Unit (UMOPAR).
Southern Cone
Squatter ‘mega-eviction’ rocks Rio de Janeiro
More than 1,500 Military Police were mobilized to evict thousands of squatters who had recently taken over an abandoned office complex in Rio de Janeiro.
Mexico
Michoacán: ‘community police’ out of control —already?
"Community police" forces in Michoacán launched a blockade of a Mexican naval base after marines attempted to disarm their gunmen.
The Andes
Colombia: gains against Buenaventura butchers?
Speaking in the Pacific port of Buenaventura, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos boasted gains against paramilitary gangs that have been terrorizing the city.