Criminal Organizations
Friday, February 12, 2016 - 04:42
The government’s use of force has invited violent pushback from the gangs, and there have been severe consequences for citizens living in the crossfire. All sides are now engaged in an escalating cycle of action and reaction. For security forces, it seems the line between those living in gang-controlled neighborhoods and those in a gang has become blurred, casting such a wide net in their operations that anyone could be targeted, but particularly young boys.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - 07:24
Following the official breakdown of the controversial truce between El Salvador’s two main gangs in March 2014, El Salvador's murder rate increased substantially, reaching a peak in the late summer of 2015, hitting a high of over 900 murders, or 30 per day, in August.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016 - 06:02
A dozen people who were transporting banners proclaiming that a new crime gang was taking control in the western state of Michoacan have been detained, officials in western Mexico said Monday.
Friday, February 5, 2016 - 05:55
A video has emerged depicting the beheading of a teenager in Brazil, in what could be an escalation of a brutal turf war between two rival gangs.
Monday, February 1, 2016 - 05:21
The Salvadoran Armed Forces (FAES) have deployed 2,000 service members from the Águila Command to protect students at 1,063 schools in the most dangerous places of El Salvador, mainly areas plagued by the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 (M-18) gangs.
Friday, January 29, 2016 - 05:21
El Salvador police are abandoning the National Civil Police (PNC) in record numbers amid rising confrontations with gangs and complaints officers' families are being threatened.
Friday, January 15, 2016 - 07:37
The U.S. Justice Department has begun talks with Mexican authorities about extraditing drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States, a spokesman said on Thursday.
Monday, January 11, 2016 - 08:10
Mexican officials on Sunday formally launched the process to extradite drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States, starting what could be a lengthy road full of legal appeals and maneuvering.
Friday, January 8, 2016 - 07:07
Authorities in Guyana say the U.S. government is helping the South American country crack down on a massive international gold smuggling operation.
Friday, December 18, 2015 - 07:06
In August 2015, El Salvador registered its bloodiest month since its 1980-1992 civil war. There were 907 murders, including 52 in a single day on August 27. The country is on track to end the year with over 6,000 murders in a population of just 6.4 million, making it the most violent country not at war in the world.