Cartels

Mexican avocado pickers resumed exports to the United States after U.S. authorities lifted a security alert in Michoacán state. While workers celebrated returning to paid work, producers noted that fears of ongoing violence and crime remain high, with criminal groups making money through extortion and robbery in the region.

Mexican avocado exports resumed after U.S. authorities lifted a temporary security alert concerning Michoacán, Mexico's main avocado-producing state. While operations returned to full speed with USDA inspectors certifying the fruit, workers expressed relief at returning to work. However, the article highlights persistent threats from numerous local cartels and ongoing issues of extortion in the region.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have disrupted Colombia's long-running armed conflict. As a result, cartels and rebel groups are utilizing these UAVs to operate within the skies. Additionally, Colombian narcos are reportedly seeking drone expertise from Ukraine.

Smuggling gasoline into Mexico, known as 'huachicol fiscal,' generates millions for cartels and is their second-largest revenue source after drug trafficking.

Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, brother of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (known as 'El Mencho'), has pleaded guilty to U.S. drug charges. Federal prosecutors state he worked for cartels alongside his brother.

Antonio Oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty to U.S. drug charges. He worked for cartels with his brother Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho.'

A mayor in Mexico's Morelos state was fatally shot, marking the 14th city leader killed since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in 2024. Under her predecessor, 26 mayors were murdered over six years, with an academic noting cartels increasingly control regional governments and a politician warning they are left to confront organized crime alone. The US announced a major crackdown on the Jalisco cartel.

Gujarat Police destroyed drugs worth ₹2,153 crore at Dahej, targeting international drug smuggling networks and drug mafias through decisive action.

The epicenter of drug deaths in America is moving westward. In the Southest, cartels have transitioned from distributing counterfeit pills to using powder.

Cartels continue using storm drain tunnels in El Paso to smuggle humans and narcotics despite increased border security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) faces challenges patrolling the tunnels due to their complexity and hazardous conditions, though migrant numbers have dropped significantly under President Trump. Smugglers now charge $20,000–$30,000 per person and use social media to recruit guides.

Kerala has initiated coordinated action against drug cartels as part of Operation Toofan to combat drug abuse.

The U.S. accuses Canada of failing to secure the northern border, leading to increased cartel activity and drug smuggling. The Trump administration delayed renewing the USMCA trade agreement, citing Canada's restrictive trade practices, including its dairy supply management system and illicit cigarette market.

Claudia Sheinbaum is addressing challenges from cartels, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and the influence of AMLO's legacy as she seeks to govern independently. The article highlights her efforts to navigate these complex issues while maintaining her own political direction.

Latin America has shifted toward right-wing and security-focused governments aligned with U.S. strategic interests, driven by regional instability, economic pressures, and U.S. policies like sanctions and military leverage. The Trump administration's actions in Cuba, Iran, and Bolivia are cited as catalysts, with voters prioritizing security over traditional political ideologies.

Tom Homan, White House border czar, criticized media for portraying Trump's immigration policies as cruel, sharing graphic accounts of migrant deaths and cartel exploitation to argue that secure borders save lives. He described 19 deceased migrants found in a tractor-trailer and young girls raped by cartels, asserting that stricter enforcement prevents such tragedies.

White House border czar Tom Homan criticized media coverage of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, describing graphic scenes from his border enforcement career, including migrants found dead in a tractor-trailer and children trafficked by cartels. He argued that secure borders save lives by deterring dangerous journeys and exploitation.

Colombia's presidential runoff features conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by Donald Trump, who campaigns on anti-cartel policies and law and order, facing leftist Iván Cepeda. The election pits de la Espriella's platform against outgoing President Gustavo Petro's socialist agenda, with Trump endorsing the former as a 'strong and tough leader.'

Sheinbaum dismissed Trump's claims that 'cartels run Mexico' and called him 'not well-informed,' while confirming a meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain to discuss Mexico's Indigenous history. She also expressed support for Mexico's World Cup football team ahead of their match.

The New World screwworm, eradicated from the U.S. for 60 years, has reemerged in Texas via cartel-controlled smuggling corridors in Mexico. Mexican cartels use illegal livestock trade to bypass inspections, spreading the parasite through infested cattle. The U.S. has closed southern border livestock imports to prevent further spread, while Mexico increased processed beef exports.

Europe's illicit drug market is rapidly evolving, with cartels increasingly using young people to smuggle dangerous synthetic opioids. The report highlights rising youth involvement in trafficking these substances.

Guatemala considers joint U.S. strikes against cartels, Bolivia's defense minister resigns as Paz seeks expanded military authority, and pressure on Cuba intensifies. The report highlights security and political developments across Latin America.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the primary border wall from the Pacific to the Gulf of America will be completed by June 2027, with the secondary wall expected by summer 2028. He emphasized progress in contracts and the need for the secondary wall due to cartel activities.

Mexico’s politicians linked to cartels, referred to as ‘untouchables,’ are protected by the Mexican government despite being indicted by the United States. The article highlights institutional shielding of these officials.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico, in collaboration with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), announced prosecutorial results including indictments, guilty pleas, and sentencings from May 26 to May 29, 2026. The HSTF aims to combat transnational criminal organizations such as cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist groups.

A former Arizona sheriff known for combating cartels and running for Congress is embroiled in a toxic scandal involving revealing texts. The scandal has exposed hidden controversies in his past.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Puerto Rico and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) announced investigative and prosecutorial results for the week of May 18–22, 2026, including indictments, guilty pleas, and sentencings targeting transnational criminal organizations. The HSTF, an interagency task force, aims to combat cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist groups.

Mexican Governor Ruben Rocha Moya of Sinaloa has been accused by the U.S. of collaborating with cartels to distribute large quantities of narcotics to the United States. He has temporarily stepped down amid the allegations.

A deadly shooting occurred at a popular tourist site in Mexico weeks before the World Cup, raising new concerns despite no cartel involvement. The attack has sparked anxiety about security in the region.

A deadly shooting occurred at a popular tourist site in Mexico weeks before the World Cup, raising new security concerns despite no cartel involvement. The attack has shaken public confidence ahead of the international event.

A deadly shooting occurred at a popular tourist site in Mexico weeks before the World Cup. The attack, which took place at a pyramid, has raised new security concerns despite no involvement from cartels.

The article claims that former U.S. presidents lied about open border policies, which it argues facilitated wealth transfer to drug cartels. It praises Trump's border control measures as effective and necessary.

Mexico arrested Janos Balla, a suspected Hungarian drug trafficker, in Quintana Roo as part of President Claudia Sheinbaum's efforts to crack down on crime and increase cartel arrests.