Central America
Will a New US-Costa Rica Extradition Agreement Help Control the Country’s Drug & Violence Problem?
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — A new extradition agreement between Costa Rica and the United States is raising hopes—and doubts—about its potential to blunt the rising tide of drug trafficking and organized crime in the region. While hailed as a … Read more
Costa Rica’s Homicide Rate Declines in 2025, But Crime Still a Major Concern
Increasing crime is challenging Costa Rica’s long-standing reputation for peace and safety. Although homicide numbers are showing signs of improvement in 2025, the more profound challenges of organized crime and drug trafficking remain. As of May 31, 2025, Costa Rica’s … Read more
The nostalgia of migration amid a life stolen in pieces
When I was little, I never dreamed of traveling to big, faraway cities. Even when relatives told me what life was like in other countries, I was perfectly happy just escaping the stifling heat of the capital to spend an … Read more
World Bank: Crime Limits Central America’s Economic Growth—a Vicious Cycle
In Central America, crime not only takes lives—it suffocates economies. Violent and corrupt forces relentlessly drag back a region rich in culture and potential. The World Bank’s latest Latin America and Caribbean Economic Review (LACER) delivers a sobering reminder: organized … Read more
Central America Sees Spike in Cocaine Seizures in 2024 as Traffickers Shift Drug Routes
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — In 2024, Central America recorded unprecedented cocaine seizures; however, vast amounts of the drug continued to reach global consumer markets, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Latin America’s trafficking networks. Despite multiton interdictions from Honduras … Read more
Seeking Justice: The Struggle of Nicaragua’s Stateless Population
Since 2018, the Ortega-Rosario Murillo government in Nicaragua has used multiple repressive strategies to punish citizens who have expressed political dissent, such as persecution, harassment, imprisonment, torture, confiscation of property, and extrajudicial executions. In 2023, state authorities used a new modality for … Read more
Costa Rica Cracks Down on Money Laundering Amid Rising Drug Violence
A recent multi-million-dollar money laundering investigation in Costa Rica illustrates how the government is tackling the country’s growing drug-related violence by going after the profits. Authorities indicted 25 individuals on February 28 in the so-called “Fénix” case, accusing them of … Read more
Costa Rica Named Happiest Country in Central America in 2025 World Happiness Report
In a world often filled with headlines of conflict, crisis, violence, and uncertainty, something is uplifting about discovering where happiness thrives. And once again, the vibrant spirit of Pura Vida shines through—Costa Rica has officially been named the happiest country … Read more
From Transit Hub to Producer: Coca Cultivation Spreads Rapidly Across Honduras
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Unprecedentedly fast Coca farming in Honduras is generating fresh questions about the nation’s transition from a drug trafficking route to a cocaine-producing hotspot. According to a March 5 report by InSight Crime, Honduran security forces destroyed coca … Read more