Caught in the crossfire: Indigenous residents along Colombia-Ecuador border face cartel violence

Crime & Justice 2025-04-23

Caught in the crossfire: Indigenous residents along Colombia-Ecuador border face cartel violence

Indigenous communities on the Ecuador-Colombia frontier face escalating violence as criminal organizations tighten their grip, forcing youth into their ranks, turning villages into human shields and spreading fear across ancestral lands.

Peruvian schoolchildren live in fear of extortion gangs

Crime & Justice 2025-04-14

Peruvian schoolchildren live in fear of extortion gangs

Hundreds of private schools in Peru have gone online as extortion surges, with gangs like Venezuela's Tren de Aragua accused of terrorizing towns.

Seizure of illegally mined minerals shines light on links between FARC dissidents, China

Crime & Justice 2025-04-08

Seizure of illegally mined minerals shines light on links between FARC dissidents, China

Illegally mined coltan flows into international markets through opaque supply chains, making it nearly impossible to trace. Many shipments ultimately reach China, a major global processor of the mineral.

Extortion by criminal gangs surges at China-run Chancay port

Crime & Justice 2025-03-07

Extortion by criminal gangs surges at China-run Chancay port

Peruvian businessmen say they endure an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty at the port, where criminals are expanding their presence.

Two years of silence: How El Salvador's war against gangs has shattered families

Crime & Justice 2025-02-13

Two years of silence: How El Salvador's war against gangs has shattered families

The families of more than 84,000 people detained in El Salvador's war against gangs have faced profound hardships, with children being among the most affected.

Police rescue 120 Tren de Aragua trafficking victims in Peru

Crime & Justice 2025-02-12

Police rescue 120 Tren de Aragua trafficking victims in Peru

A joint Peruvian-US operation rolled up 24 suspected members of Tren de Aragua on February 7 in multiple locations in Lima.

Ecuadorian drug gangs seek drug saint's protection

Crime & Justice 2025-02-07

Ecuadorian drug gangs seek drug saint's protection

Santa Muerte took root in Ecuador six years ago. While many seek her protection, some are resorting to human sacrifices to win her favor.

Chinese organized crime fuels drug and human trafficking in Chile

Crime & Justice 2025-01-14

Chinese organized crime fuels drug and human trafficking in Chile

Chinese mafias have expanded their influence in Latin America by engaging in drug trafficking and the illegal smuggling of migrants for labor and sexual exploitation.

China fuels deadly fentanyl crisis via criminal, cross-border smuggling

Crime & Justice 2024-12-04

China fuels deadly fentanyl crisis via criminal, cross-border smuggling

China is the key source of chemicals driving the US overdose epidemic, with components shipped to Latin America for production and smuggling across the border.

Chinese-linked Trojan horse empties Latin American, European bank accounts

Crime & Justice 2024-11-20

Chinese-linked Trojan horse empties Latin American, European bank accounts

A Chinese scam is tricking users into downloading fake apps via counterfeit websites, bypassing security measures and stealing banking details once installed.