drug cartels

Donald Trump's return to the White House and the launch of the 'Shield of the Americas'—a militarized anti-narcotics coalition excluding Mexico—have altered Central America's security landscape. The coalition, unveiled in Miami, has pushed drug trafficking routes into international waters and prompted uneven regional responses, according to a report by EL PAÍS.

A hardline candidate in Colombia's presidential election promises to dismantle drug cartels and reset security policies, reflecting a regional trend of security-focused leaders. The election pits Abelardo De La Espriella against leftist Iván Cepeda and center-right Paloma Valencia, with potential implications for U.S.-Colombia cooperation on drug interdiction and security.

The U.S. military conducted a strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three people and raising the total death toll from such attacks to over 200. The strike, part of a campaign against narco-trafficking operations, was announced by U.S. Southern Command without providing evidence of the vessel's activities. The attack occurred amid a Trump administration declaration of armed conflict with Latin American drug cartels.

Fault Lines investigates forced disappearances allegedly conducted by Ecuador's military during operations against drug cartels. The report examines human rights violations and the fate of missing persons in the country's drug war.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered an RPG launcher, 16 AK rifles, and other weapons hidden in a Lexus at the Nogales border crossing. The seizure highlights concerns about U.S.-sourced weapons flowing into Mexico and the scale of cartel firepower.

Two U.S. CIA officials and two Mexican officials died in a crash in Chihuahua, Mexico, linked to a cartel-related operation. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the lack of prior U.S. coordination with her administration, while local authorities described the U.S. personnel as part of routine advisory and training efforts.

Two U.S. CIA officials were killed in a crash in Mexico linked to a cartel-related operation, prompting conflicting accounts between Mexican federal authorities and local officials about U.S. involvement. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded an investigation into potential violations of sovereignty, while Chihuahua state officials described the U.S. personnel as part of routine training cooperation.

Two U.S. officials and two Mexican officials, including the director of Chihuahua's state investigation agency, died in a car accident during an operation to dismantle clandestine drug labs in the municipality of Morelos. The incident occurred in northern Mexico, as confirmed by a U.S. embassy spokesperson and Mexican state authorities.

Three people were killed in a U.S. military strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, as confirmed by the Pentagon. President Trump has framed the U.S. actions as an 'armed conflict' with Latin American drug cartels, justifying the escalation to disrupt drug trafficking into the United States.

Raul Servin and his group Guerreros Buscadores search for missing persons in Mexico's cartel-affected regions, facing dangers and limited government support. Over 130,000 people have gone missing since 2006, with families driving most search efforts despite systemic challenges.