CJNG Violence After the Killing of ‘El Mencho’: Power Play or Last Gasp?
The government’s killing of “El Mencho” on February 22 provoked a spasm of violence by his cartel that has been,…
What’s Next for Mexico’s CJNG After the Killing of ‘El Mencho’?
Mexico’s underworld could experience far-reaching changes after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” the leader of the…
US Sanctions in Latin America Have Increased. But Can They Be Enforced?
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is unleashing a wave of sanctions on drug traffickers and…
How Guatemala’s Gang Crisis Reached a Boiling Point
Guatemala is returning to hardline security policies amid a resurgence of gang activity, two years after its president pledged a…
The State of Play: US Anti-Drug Cooperation in Latin America
Since US President Richard Nixon declared drugs public enemy number one in the 1970s and created the Drug Enforcement Administration…
Top Criminal Takedowns of 2025
From underground bunkers to press conferences and malls, law enforcement nabbed some major crime bosses in 2025. Criminal leaders from…
On the Radar: Violence from Gangs and Governments Rules the Region
Gang massacres in Mexico, more hardline measures against drug-related violence in Ecuador, and legal action from the victims of Trump’s…
Winner of Colombia-Ecuador Trade War Could Be Organized Crime
The fight against organized crime is now at the center of a trade war that has erupted between Colombia and…
Costa Rica’s Leading Presidential Candidates Embrace Hardline Security
Rising violence has emerged as one of voters’ top concerns ahead of Costa Rica’s presidential elections, following a trend seen…
Organized Crime and AI: 5 Topics We Are Monitoring in 2026
As advances in artificial intelligence (AI) bring it to nearly all corners of life, both criminal organizations and law enforcement…