All articles tagged with #criminal gangs
Gunmen abduct Muslim travelers in Nigeria's Plateau state, with the perpetrators unknown; this incident is part of widespread kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs in Nigeria, unrelated to the Islamist insurgency, and highlights ongoing security challenges in the country.
Guatemala has declared a 15-day state of emergency in two municipalities following armed attacks by criminal gangs linked to extortion and drug trafficking, which resulted in at least five deaths and involved attacks on military and police installations, with the government pledging to reinforce security measures.
Mexican authorities have arrested Germán Reyes, the security chief of Chilpancingo, for his alleged involvement in the beheading of Mayor Alejandro Arcos, whose murder has highlighted the influence of criminal gangs in Guerrero. Reyes, a former army captain, denies the charges, claiming he is being scapegoated. The murder is believed to be linked to the criminal gang Los Ardillos, which is vying for control over local security forces. The federal government has deployed thousands of troops to Guerrero to address the escalating violence, posing a significant challenge for President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration.
Sweden has accused Iran of employing criminal gangs to target its enemies in Tehran, raising concerns about the use of illicit networks for political purposes.
Mexican authorities confirm the contents of a disturbing drug cartel video showing gunmen abusing and burning the bodies of their rivals in a wooded mountainside. The video depicts a confrontation between two criminal gangs, with at least 15 bodies visible before they are set alight. The gangs involved are believed to be the hyper violent Familia Michoacana cartel and a gang known as the Tlacos, both vying for control in the remote mountain towns of Guerrero. In a separate incident, bodies were found in shallow, clandestine burial pits in the neighboring state of Michoacán.
Mexican drug cartels have infiltrated and allied with local criminal gangs in Ecuador, leading to a surge in violence and unrest. The cartels use Ecuador as a primary drug distribution point for cocaine from Colombia and Peru, with the country's Guayaquil Port serving as a key logistics hub. The recent storming of an Ecuadorian TV station by armed men is linked to a prison escape of a local gang leader, highlighting the ominous connection between Mexican cartels and the escalating violence in the small South American country. The government has declared an "internal armed conflict" and is cracking down on criminal groups, but critics are concerned about the military response's long-term effectiveness. The influence of Mexican cartels in Ecuador has led to a wave of assassinations, including that of a high-profile prosecutor investigating drug-related cases.
Ecuador's security forces raided a major prison complex in Guayaquil as part of a crackdown on powerful criminal gangs, following the arrest of two suspects in the shooting death of a prosecutor. The government declared a state of war and imposed a 60-day state of emergency after a gang boss's escape led to a series of violent incidents, including a live-broadcast assault on a TV studio. The escalating conflict between the government and criminal groups has resulted in hundreds of arrests and a surge in violence, with prosecutors and officials investigating gang activities becoming targets for assassination.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declares the country "at war" with criminal gangs after a series of violent incidents, including the takeover of a TV station and the hostage-taking of prison staff. The violence follows the escape of a powerful narco boss and the announcement of a state of emergency. Noboa has named 22 gangs as "terrorist" organizations and ordered the military to "neutralize" them. The government attributes the violence to its plan to build new high-security prisons for gang leaders. International condemnation and arrests have followed the unrest.
At least a dozen police officers and a local security supervisor were killed in a brazen ambush near Acapulco, Mexico. The attack took place in the village of El Papayo, and the initial target was the head of public security in the surrounding municipality. Violence has been escalating in Guerrero state as criminal gangs vie for control, with at least 16 syndicates engaged in drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's approach to organized crime differs from his predecessors, focusing on increasing government presence and implementing social programs. However, analysts fear that violence may escalate as Mexico approaches national elections next year.
The UN Security Council will vote on whether to endorse an international armed force to support Haiti's police in their fight against criminal gangs. The country has been facing a worsening security crisis, with escalating violence and a rise in gang control. Kenya has offered to lead the effort by deploying a 1,000-strong force, while the United States and other countries have expressed willingness to provide support. The decision comes after weeks of internal debate, and if approved, the mission would not be under UN control.
Two Mexican migrants were shot and killed near the US-Mexico border, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by migrants and asylum seekers in border areas controlled by criminal gangs. Three others were injured in the incident. The cause of the shooting is unknown, but border crossings often involve agreements with local cartels, and migrants can be targeted if their smuggler is affiliated with a rival gang or if they haven't paid passage rights. Migrants and asylum seekers also face risks of robbery and kidnapping in border areas. This incident adds to the growing number of migrants and asylum seekers killed or injured while attempting to reach the US through Mexico's borders.
Three people were killed in separate incidents in Sweden as a feud between criminal gangs escalated, making September the deadliest month on record for gun violence in the country. Two gangs are reportedly fighting over drugs and weapons, leading to a sharp increase in fatal shootings. In addition to the shootings, a woman in her 20s died in an explosion that police are treating as murder. The gang feud is considered a serious threat to the safety and security of the country. The government has been tightening laws to tackle gang-related crime, while the head of Sweden's police has described the wave of violence as "unprecedented."
Two powerful explosions have occurred in central Sweden, injuring at least three people and causing damage to buildings. The explosions, one in Stockholm and the other in Linkoping, may be related to a feud between criminal gangs involved in drug and weapon trafficking. Sweden has been experiencing a rise in gang-related violence, with numerous shootings and bombings reported this year. The Swedish government is now convening a meeting to discuss measures to address the issue and cut off criminals' access to explosives.
A deadly fire in a derelict building in Johannesburg has shed light on the dire living conditions faced by squatters in hijacked buildings, where criminal gangs charge rent to desperate individuals seeking housing in a country with high unemployment rates. The fire, which claimed the lives of 76 people, has prompted calls for action and exposed the city's affordable housing crisis. The buildings, abandoned by corporations, have become havens for crime and squalor, with residents living in makeshift shacks and using highly flammable materials for privacy. The government's failure to address the issue and allegations of corruption have exacerbated the problem, leaving many vulnerable to further disasters.
A shooting in Copenhagen's Christiania neighborhood, known for its counterculture vibe and hashish trade, resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man and injuries to four others. Two masked gunmen opened fire inside a building, with the incident believed to be linked to criminal gangs. One of the injured is in critical but stable condition, while the others sustained minor injuries. Police are still searching for the gunmen. Christiania has been an anarchist commune since the 1970s, with the hashish trade continuing despite occasional violence associated with criminal gangs.