Latin America
Ecuador Captures “Fito”: What His Arrest Means for the Country’s Criminal Underworld
Ecuadorian security forces captured the country’s most notorious criminal leader in a crucial — though largely symbolic — win in its “war on gangs.” A joint operation by police and military on June 25 led to the capture of Adolfo … Read more
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
Synthetic Drugs in Latin America: A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Top Concern
WASHINGTON — Synthetic drugs remain the top threat to U.S. public health and safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in its latest National Drug Threat Assessment, citing evolving criminal strategies, shifting purity levels, and a deepening convergence between narcotics and … 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
Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa: How the Right-Win President Won Re-Election and Captured Swing Voters
On April 13, 2025, 37-year-old businessman Daniel Noboa, one of the world’s youngest presidents, was re-elected as president of the Republic of Ecuador. Noboa came to office after winning 55.62 per cent of the vote in a runoff election against Luisa González, … Read more
Economic Commission for Latin America ECLAC Forecasts 2.5% Economic Growth for El Salvador in 2025
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC or CEPAL) has lowered its 2025 growth forecast for El Salvador to 2.5%, underscoring the growing uncertainty clouding the region’s economic outlook. The revised projection, … Read more