All articles tagged with #cartel
Mexico extradited 26 inmates linked to major drug cartels to the US, including key operatives from CJNG and Sinaloa, as part of ongoing cooperation to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, amidst diplomatic pressures and security concerns.
The EU fined Delivery Hero and Glovo €329 million for participating in an online food delivery cartel, involving anti-competitive practices such as employee poaching bans and location agreements, marking a significant crackdown on minority stake influence and no-poach agreements in the industry.
Netflix's new musical 'Emilia Pérez' tells the story of a Mexican cartel boss who transitions to a woman and reintegrates into her children's lives as a distant relative. The film, featuring Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez, has sparked divisive opinions.
A federal judge has denied Mexican drug lord "El Chapo" Guzman's request for phone calls and visits with his daughters and wife, stating that the Bureau of Prisons is solely responsible for his conditions. Guzman, serving a life sentence in a Supermax prison in Colorado, had requested visits with his family, citing unprecedented discrimination. The judge's decision comes after Guzman's previous plea for intervention due to alleged psychological torment in prison.
Europol's report reveals that over 800 criminal networks with more than 25,000 members are infiltrating legal businesses in the EU, using corruption to hide their activities and launder criminal profits. Examples include an Italian businessman in Spain involved in drug trafficking and money laundering through fruit import companies, and 'Ndrangheta syndicate families investing in real estate and commercial activities. Drug trafficking and corruption are the main concerns, with record amounts of cocaine being seized in Europe and drug-related violent crime increasing. Europol plans to share the data with law enforcement agencies in EU member countries to better target criminals.
Bertha Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez, a mayoral candidate in Mexico, was shot and killed as she began campaigning in the violence-stricken city of Celaya, marking another politician to be murdered in the country in recent weeks. The killing comes amidst an increasingly bloody runup to Mexico's June 2 elections, with at least 14 candidates killed since the start of 2024. The state of Guanajuato, where the killing took place, has been plagued by high levels of violence, and the incident underscores the widespread issue of violence against politicians in Mexico.
A 50-count indictment has led to the arrest of 23 individuals involved in cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and meth trafficking in the Houston and Galveston areas, allegedly under the control of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The operation, spanning multiple jurisdictions, has resulted in the seizure of large quantities of drugs and the arrest of 20 people, with warrants outstanding for 16 others. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $10 million in illegal proceeds, and the defendants face up to life in prison if convicted. The arrests are the culmination of a 63-month investigation dubbed Operation Rainmaker, led by the DEA and USMS with assistance from other law enforcement agencies.
The mayor of Churumuco, Mexico, Guillermo Torres, was shot dead at a restaurant in Morelia while dining with his 14-year-old son, becoming the latest victim of politically related killings in the country ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. His son survived the attack. Torres is the third mayoral candidate to be murdered in recent months, highlighting the ongoing violence and organized crime plaguing Mexico, particularly in Michoacan state, where drug cartels often target politicians in their bid to control local authorities.
In the Mexican tourist city of Taxco, a woman suspected of kidnapping and killing an 8-year-old girl was brutally beaten to death by a mob, sparking outrage and highlighting the prevalence of vigilante justice in the region. The incident occurred just hours before the city's Holy Week procession, casting a pall over the already solemn event. The mayor expressed frustration over the lack of support from the state government, while residents voiced their fed-up sentiments with the ongoing violence and its impact on tourism. Guerrero state, where Taxco is located, has been particularly prone to violence, with drug cartels and gangs routinely preying on the local population.
Two federal detectives searching for 43 missing students in Mexico's Guerrero state have themselves disappeared, prompting concerns about a breakdown in law and order. The state has been plagued by the case of the missing students, who are believed to have been abducted by local officials and turned over to a drug gang to be killed. The disappearances come amid tensions between the government and the families of the missing students, with protests calling for action in the case. The lack of official help has led to volunteer search efforts for missing loved ones throughout the country.
Three farmers were killed by a roadside bomb in Michoacan, Mexico, just days after four soldiers died in a similar explosive "trap" likely set by a cartel. The use of improvised explosive devices by drug cartels in the region appears to be increasing, with 556 such devices found in Mexico between January and August 2023. Michoacan has been experiencing heightened cartel violence and intimidation, including the recent killings of political candidates, prompting the U.S. State Department to advise Americans to completely avoid the state due to widespread crime and violence.
Mexican authorities have confirmed the contents of a disturbing drug cartel video showing gunmen abusing the bodies of their rivals, with at least 15 bodies seen in the footage. The incident took place in the mountain township of Totolapan, where five charred bodies were found, but it remains unclear why only five were located. The violent clash involved the Familia Michoacana and Tlacos cartels, both vying for control in the remote mountain towns of Guerrero, a region marked by drug trafficking, violence, and poverty. This incident is part of a larger pattern of cartel-related violence and criminal activity in Mexico, which has seen over 420,000 murders and numerous missing persons since 2006.
Five charred bodies were discovered in a remote village in Guerrero, Mexico, following reports of a clash between suspected criminals. The victims have not been identified, and the area's difficult access has prompted the involvement of federal forces in the investigation. Guerrero has experienced a series of violent confrontations between criminal groups involved in drug trafficking, prompting calls from local Catholic leaders and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for negotiations to end the violence.
Mexican soldiers killed 12 alleged members of a drug cartel in a shootout near the U.S. border in Tamaulipas, a state plagued by organized crime violence. The clash occurred during a patrol in Miguel Aleman municipality, resulting in the seizure of weapons and ammunition. Tamaulipas has been a hotspot for drug trafficking-related violence, with constant clashes between rival gangs. Last year, four U.S. citizens were kidnapped in the state, leading to fatalities and arrests. Additionally, Mexican marines recently detained a top leader of the Gulf cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Tamaulipas.
Hacked-up bodies were found in two abandoned vehicles in Mexico's Veracruz state, with a warning message from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel claiming responsibility for the crime. The bodies, possibly of Guatemalans, were packed into coolers, and the killings are believed to be part of a turf war between cartels in the region. Mexican authorities are conducting laboratory tests to determine the number of victims, and have vowed to pursue those responsible for the gruesome act. This incident is part of a disturbing trend of cartel violence in Mexico, including the discovery of mutilated bodies with menacing messages as criminal gangs seek to intimidate their rivals.