Mexico
Michoacán: cannibalization of ‘community police’?
Mexican police and army troops were rushed to a mountain village in Michoacán amid an armed stand-off between rival factions of the "community police."
Tag: narco wars
Mexico
Michoacán cartel boss ‘killed’ —again!
For the second time in four years, Mexican authorities announced the death of Michoacán's top drug lord Nazario Moreno AKA "El Chayo" in a shoot-out with federal police.
Mexico
Michoacán crackdown on narco-mineral nexus
Mexican authorities seized 119,000 tons of iron ore at Michoacán's Pacific seaport of Lázaro Cardenas, following tips about drug cartels exporting black-market ore to China.
The Andes
HRW documents mass displacement in Colombia
A Human Rights Watch investigation in Colombia's Pacific port of Buenaventura finds a city in the grip of paramilitary terror, with more than 13,000 displaced last year.
Central America
Nicaragua: electoral violence on Caribbean coast?
A family was massacred during regional elections on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, but National Police said they were victims of score-settling between criminal gangs.
Mexico
Mexico: mass graves unearthed in Coahuila
Authorities in the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila announced that they have recovered at least 500 sets of human remains from mass graves along the Texas border.
Mexico
Mexican feds: ‘Got Shorty!’ El Chapo busted —at last
Mexican authorities announced the arrest of the country's top drug lord, the notorious Joaquin Guzmán AKA "El Chapo" (Shorty)—who had eluded capture for over 10 years.
The Andes
Peru escalates cannabis crackdown
Cannabis took a greater share of total drug crops eradicated in Peru in 2013, and authorities hope to expand eradication this year—bringing the program beyond the remote coca zones.
Mexico
Mexico busts Jalisco cartel kingpin
Mexican security forces announced the arrest of a top leader of the New Generation drug cartel, based in the western state of Jalisco, and linked to the Michoacán violence.
Central America
Salvador terror: gang warfare or new death-squads?
A spike in deadly violence came just as El Salvador faced presidential elections, leading to speculation of an intentional provocation by resurgent death squads.
Mexico
Mexico: paramilitarization of ‘community police’?
Mexico's government signed an accord with Michoacán's "community police" network, calling for the self-defense militias to be incorporated into the official security forces.
Mexico
Blood avocados: Michoacán cartels co-opt ag-biz
Michoacán's blood-drenched Knights Templar cartel have amassed a land empire in the Mexican state, using the avocado industry to launder narco profits.