Latin America
DEA Under Fire for Delaying Reports on Foreign Partners’ Security Abuses
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the main agency investigating organized crime and drug trafficking for the United States government in the region, repeatedly delayed reporting human rights violations by the Latin American security forces it was partnering with, adding to a series of scandals at the world’s most influential anti-drug agency. The newest findings came from an … Read more
El Salvador Tops Security Perceptions While Chile and Ecuador See Declines
Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be the region with the worst citizen perception of security according to an annual report, although the region has improved over the past three years. The Gallup Global Safety Report 2024 administers and analyzes a poll evaluating citizens’ experiences of violent crime (robberies, assaults, muggings), their perception of … Read more
A Traveler’s Guide to Central America: Top Destinations You Can’t Miss
Central America literally reeks of incredibly varied cultures, landscapes, and vibrant experiences only waiting for one to get out and see. Whether it is the call of adventure or the need for rest, there is something special in store for … Read more
Central America Primed for Coca Expansion, Study Finds
Nearly half of northern Central America has the ideal agricultural conditions for growing coca, the raw material for cocaine, according to a new study that warns of the potential spread of the illicit crop across the region. The research paper, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, examined the soil quality, climate, … Read more
Honduras Crime Profile: Examining Criminal Groups, Security Forces, the Judicial System, and Prisons
Due to its geographic location, Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking transshipment points between South America and Mexico. With every branch of government and its armed forces plagued by corruption, the Central American nation has long played a vital role as a transit point in which criminal groups enjoy official protection … Read more
Colombia Crime Profile: Exploring Criminal Networks, Security Forces, and the Justice System
For decades, Colombia has been the world’s leading cocaine producer. Numerous Colombian criminal groups have entered the drug trade through alliances with mafias worldwide. Colombian organized crime is deeply fragmented. The demobilization of paramilitary organizations in the early 2000s and the signing of a peace agreement with one of the country’s most … Read more
El Salvador Crime Profile: Analyzing Criminal Groups, Security Forces, Prisons, and the Judicial System
El Salvador is the spiritual homeland of Central America’s most notorious street gangs – the Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) and Barrio 18. For years, these gangs terrorized poor urban neighborhoods across the country, but they appear to have been largely dismantled following a brutal and controversial government crackdown that has seen over 1.5% of El Salvador’s population jailed for … Read more