cartels
Mexican women increasingly become active members or victims of drug cartels. full story
Mexico City prosecutors say corpse of Hector 'Black' Saldaña not discovered until three hours after Mauricio Fernandez declared him dead. full story
Many residents of some of Rio de Janeiro's worst slums are fleeing their homes to escape a drug war that has left part of the Brazilian city in ruins, and killed a dozen people. full story
Attitude shift with Mexico's choice to decriminalize pot, but only legalization will end the violence of drug cartels. full story
Mexico decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin on Friday — a move that prosecutors say makes sense even in the midst of the government's grueling battle against drug traffickers. full story- For years, the ridiculous War On Drugs in Mexico has been creating and feeding an out-of-control monster, but until now I didn't realize just how large that monster really is. full story
Add to the ever-growing list of arguments in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana this: Legalizing pot may save one of our most precious natural treasures - our national forests. full story
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Sunday that Canada will train Mexican police officers to assist Mexico in its brutal war against rival drug cartels. full story
A key US senator has delayed the release of a report needed to free some $100m to help Mexico battle drug gangs, citing human rights concerns. full story- Very interesting column about two young men who have been subjected to the risk of kidnapping in Mexico because the parents are law enforcement. full story
As the bloodshed in Mexico reaches unprecedented levels, the US Government says increasing violence is an indication they are winning the Drug War. full story
Suspected drug hitmen attacked a candidate for Mexico's Congress and killed two of his aides, days before the July 5 mid-term election. full story
President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday the future of Mexican democracy is at stake in the government's fight against official corruption and organized crime, and he criticized politicians who he said want to return to the era when gangs were tolerated. full story
Mexican drug cartels recruit young men from both countries and operate their smuggling and murder-for-hire rings on both sides of the border. full story
President Calderon is set to sign the law, but some fear that letting off users caught with limited amounts of drugs will increase drug use and encourage 'drug tourists' from the U.S. full story
As if the global economic downturn wasn’t enough, some countries are finding their tourism industries battered by negative portrayals that paint them as being contaminated, unsavory or just plain dangerous. full story
Soldiers and federal agents detained 29 police officers in northern Mexico on Monday for alleged ties to drug traffickers. full story
Vancouver task force struggles with fallout of crackdown on cartels. full story
The Mexican drug cartels battling viciously to expand and survive have a powerful financial incentive: Across the border to the north is a market for illegal drugs unsurpassed for its wealth, diversity and voraciousness. full story
Mexican organized crime relies on gangs inside the United States for distribution and support, US gangs that pose real threats as foot soldiers, informants, tax collectors and assassins for the drug cartels. full story
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a supplemental defense-spending bill that includes $470 million in aid to Mexico to fight drug trafficking. full story
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has joined three other ex-leaders of Latin American nations calling for the decriminalization of marijuana. full story
Authorities say Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, the reputed leader of the Mexican cartel, has given his associates the OK, if necessary, to open fire across the border. full story
Despite the almost total shutdown of community activity, the wasteful drug war in Mexico rages on. full story
The Mexican Congress held a lively three-day debate on decriminalizing marijuana. Though opposition parties and experts called for reforms to drug laws, the federal government - pressured by the American DEA - have stopped short of calling for legalization or decriminalization. full story
