LATIN AMERICA DRUG VIOLENCE
Gang warfare, narco-trafficking crackdowns, and state security responses to organised criminal violence across Latin American countries, notably Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia and Haiti
5 articles
Petro Accuses Ecuador of Bombing Colombia, Triggering Diplomatic Crisis
EL PAÍSPetro acusa a Ecuador de bombardear a Colombia y escala la crisis diplomática
3/17/2026, 5:38:40 PM
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused Ecuador of carrying out airstrikes on Colombian territory, claiming 27 charred bodies were found at the scene. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa flatly denied any military incursion across the border. The accusations have sharply escalated diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Ecuador Imposes Two-Week Curfew in Four Provinces in Crackdown on Organised Crime
EL PAÍSNoboa decreta dos semanas de toque de queda en cuatro provincias de Ecuador
3/16/2026, 3:26:59 PM
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a two-week curfew across four provinces as part of a sweeping security offensive against organised crime. The government has deployed 75,000 soldiers with the backing of the United States. The move marks one of the most significant security crackdowns in Ecuador's recent history amid a surge in cartel-related violence.
Ambush and Kidnapping at Madrid's 'Narco Hotel'
EL PAÍSEmboscada y secuestro en el narcohotel de San Blas
3/16/2026, 3:01:20 PM
A Madrid provincial court has convicted two men and a woman for kidnapping and extorting two victims at a property in the San Blas neighbourhood, known locally as a "narco hotel." The defendants held their victims against their will and stole large sums of money through coercion. The case sheds light on the criminal underworld operating out of drug-linked premises in the Spanish capital.
The Dark Side of Bukele's Iron Fist
EL PAÍSLas sombras de Bukele
3/16/2026, 4:30:01 AM
An international accusation against El Salvador's government for crimes against humanity has cast a shadow over President Nayib Bukele's celebrated security crackdown. The case highlights the dangers of sacrificing the rule of law in the name of public order, even when crime rates plummet. Critics warn that Bukele's authoritarian methods may set a dangerous precedent across Latin America.
Colombia Warns Trump: Hands Off Latin America
RTLatin American nation warns Trump against building empire
3/13/2026, 4:00:50 PM
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a sharp warning to the United States against pursuing imperial ambitions in Latin America. His remarks come in response to the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's inner circle and escalating US threats against Cuba. Petro called on regional nations to resist what he described as Washington's growing interventionism.