“Under pressure from the government and each other, some of Mexico’s most powerful criminal groups are amassing homemade mortars, land mines, rocket-propelled grenades and bomber drones.”
-New York Times

“In the five years before Posorja’s $1.2bn port opened, the Ecuadorian town reported 13 murders.

Since 2020, there have been more than 200 killings — a trend that police link to the drug trade as two violent gangs vie for control of logistics.”
-Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

“U.S. citizens have been told "do not travel" to Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander "due to crime and terrorism," while they should also avoid the Colombia-Venezuela border region completely, "due to crime, kidnapping, conflict between armed groups, and the risk of detention," the State Department says.”
-Newsweek

“According to the Instituto Fogo Cruzado, a group that tracks gun violence, Brazil Avenue suffered 637 shootouts from 2017 to 2024 – one every five days. The bullets killed 160 people and wounded 383. Last month three police officers were killed on the motorway after losing control of their vehicle during a high-speed chase.”
-The Guardian

“Los Choneros and Los Lobos have attacked and threatened public officials and their families, security personnel, judges, prosecutors, and journalists in Ecuador.”
-Borderland Beat