News of drug

Trump urges Latin America to use military against cartels

08-03-2026 10:23 Trump tells a group of Latin American leaders at security summit in Miami that Washington "will not tolerate the lawlessness in our hemisphere any longer."

POLITICS & CORRUPTION

Senator-elect accused of US drug arrest gives up battle for seat

03-12-2025 12:57 La Libertad Avanza national deputy Lorena Villaverde says she has “no ongoing criminal cases either in Argentina or in the United States” against her but says she will resign the Senate seat she won in October to stay in the lower house.

POLITICS & THE COURTS

Alleged drug-trafficker Federico ‘Fred’ Machado set for extradition to US

04-11-2025 11:08 Businessman accused of drug-trafficking by US courts whose links to La Libertad Avanza legislative hopeful José Luis Espert forced the politician to step down his candidacy is due to be deported on Wednesday, according to reports.

KILLING IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Over 100 killed in Rio police crackdown on powerful narco gang

30-10-2025 08:46 At least 119 people – 115 alleged gang members and four police officers – were killed Tuesday in the largest police operation Rio de Janeiro has seen in its recent past.

CRIME IN BRAZIL

At least 64 killed in war-like Rio de Janeiro drug raids

28-10-2025 21:20 Police in Rio de Janeiro launch their biggest ever raids on the city's drug-traffickers, leaving at least 64 dead in war-like scenes.

Drug-trafficking

US strikes fail to stop Colombia’s drug trade – an explainer

23-10-2025 13:38 Despite aggressive US military strikes, experts say that Columbia’s drug trade continues unaffected amid changing logistics and international tensions.

DIPLOMATIC UNREST

US-Colombia tensions grow over fatal Caribbean boat strike

21-10-2025 20:03 US military attacks in the Caribbean have sparked accusations of unjust killings, worsening diplomatic relations with Colombia.

ESPERT-MACHADO SCANDAL

US report on Machado funds poses uncomfortable questions for Bullrich

09-10-2025 01:05 US government report by Homeland Security indicates that Machado had already been linked to drug-trafficking and money-laundering in 2021.

POLITICS & CORRUPTION

Scandal-hit lawmaker Espert seeks leave of absence from lower house

08-10-2025 14:31 La Libertad Avanza national deputy, now facing money-laundering probe over links to suspected drug-trafficker and fraudster, requests leave of absence until December 8 – two days before his term in office ends.

POLITICS & CORRUPTION

Espert and Machado’s murky history

08-10-2025 12:27 How the government’s main candidate in Buenos Aires Province became tainted by campaign contributions of dubious origin.

by Rodis Recalt

POLITICS & COURTS

Argentina to extradite alleged drug-trafficker Machado to US

07-10-2025 22:01 Milei government confirms that it will heed Supreme Court ruling and implement extradition as part of its commitment to international cooperation against organised crime.

POLITICS

Espert not the only LLA candidate with alleged narco links

07-10-2025 18:04 As well as the developing scandal starring José Luis Espert, there are other ruling party figures with chequered pasts – from deputy and senatorial candidate Lorena Villaverde to clients of minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona and the omniscient presence of Claudio Cicarelli, a friend of the aforementioned Patagonian legislator.

by Pablo Varela

POLITICS & COURTS

Machado breaks silence, admits to funding Espert’s campaign

07-10-2025 16:26 Federico ‘Fred’ Machado, who faces charges of money-laundering and drug-trafficking in the United States, admits he financially contributed to La Libertad Avanza national deputy José Luis Espert’s 2019 presidential campaign.

Election 2025: Politics

Espert resigns candidacy over links to alleged drug-trafficker

05-10-2025 23:23 President Javier Milei suffers another damaging blow weeks before midterm elections; Amid growing scandal, José Luis Espert – ruling party’s top candidate in October vote – resigns his candidacy.

Politics

Milei’s candidate drops out of race amid ties to drug-trafficker

05-10-2025 23:03 Scandal sowed divisions within Milei’s government, with some ministers publicly calling on Espert to come clean.

POLITICS & CORRUPTION

Espert's dirty financing

04-10-2025 06:45 On José Luis Espert’s ties with a suspected drug dealer and the libertarian obsession with coin.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

POLITICS

Bullrich says Espert ‘must clarify’ drug-trafficker cash allegations

01-10-2025 16:00 Patricia Bullrich says José Luis Espert, must “immediately clarify” allegations that he took money from a suspected drug-trafficker.

CRIME & SECURITY

Villa 21-24: Buenos Aires barrio remains in grip of drug-trafficking

29-09-2025 15:43 In the Villa Zavaleta neighbourhood, at least nine drug gangs operate, fighting violently for territory with bunkers and young "soldiers" dotted everywhere.

REGIONAL TENSIONS

Latin American nations concerned by US-Venezuela tension

04-09-2025 16:04 Washington ramps up regional crime fight; Trump confirms Washington killed 11 “terrorists” when it took down a boat allegedly carrying drugs into international waters.

EXPLAINER

United States targets Venezuela over 'Soles' cartel – but does it exist?

29-08-2025 07:36 While some of US President Donald Trump's right-wing led allies in South America have echoed his designation of the 'Cártel de los Soles' as a terrorist organisation, many have doubts such a group even exists.

CRIME & INSECURITY

Court sentences two to life for 2022 drug turf-war murder

26-08-2025 17:46 Mauricio Matías Marca Choque and Ruvén Arce Alonoka murdered Harold Jorge “Popeyín” Vacarezza Alpiri to ensure the power of one of the factions.

CONTAMINATED DRUG SCANDAL

Lab owner, executives at heart of contaminated fentanyl scandal arrested

21-08-2025 00:31 Businessman Ariel García Furfaro, his brothers, mother and management team of HLB Pharma laboratory at centre of contaminated fentanyl scandal arrested in connection with the investigation into 96 deaths.

CONTAMINATED DRUG SCANDAL

Tainted fentanyl death toll clears 100 as Milei blames opposition

15-08-2025 10:14 President Javier Milei uses appearance at campaign rally in La Plata to point finger at opposition Kirchnerites and link rivals to developing scandal.

CRIME & SECURITY

Tainted fentanyl blamed for 87 hospital deaths

13-08-2025 22:58 Contaminated drug scandal grows, authorities fear true number of deaths may be even higher; Casa Rosada orders recusal of judge leading case, citing conflict of interest.

DRUG SMUGGLING

Argentine among five foreigners sentenced in Indonesia for drug-smuggling

24-07-2025 18:28 Indonesia has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws; Argentine Eleonora Gracia sentenced to seven years in prison for cocaine-smuggling.

CRIME & SECURITY

Argentina applies new ‘anti-mafia law’ in Rosario

16-05-2025 12:49 Milei government applies “anti-mafia law” against organised crime in troubled Santa Fe city; Rosario becomes first place in country to see application of new crime-fighting law.

EDITORIAL

Clean slates – for greenbacks only

10-05-2025 07:25 At least two of this week’s main news items may be considered further setbacks in the fight against corruption. Every suspicion of a meticulously manipulated Senate result instead of free votes of conscience, while those complying with the conditions of last year’s tax whitewash might ask themselves why they went to all that trouble – a black week for removing the stain of corruption with no guarantee against more to come.

'Blanqueo permanente'?

Experts say Argentina’s dollar thirst could open door for illegal funds

06-05-2025 12:26 Experts raise concerns about legal and tax consequences of using undeclared money after Economy Minister Luis Caputo urged Argentines to take their dollars out and "remonetise" the economy – without having to answer questions.

by Eugenia Muzio

SIZEABLE BLACK ECONOMY

US$30 billion a year – Ecuador reveals size of local cartel trade

18-02-2025 14:44 Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa admits that cartels and gangs move US$30 billion worth of drugs, arms and other illicit goods through his country a year.

FOREIGN AID

USAID freeze threatens millions in Latin America

13-02-2025 13:49 US President Donald Trump pulls USAID funding from vital Latin American NGOs, public entities and life-saving United Nations programs.

ELECTION DENIAL

Ecuador's president claims 'irregularities' in first vote

11-02-2025 16:38 Ecuador President Daniel Noboa blames inconclusive first-round vote on unsubstantiated polling "irregularities" as he and leftist rival Luisa González advance to runoff election set for April 13.

MILITARY OUSTING

Poll: Latin Americans back US military force against Maduro

11-02-2025 13:16 Despite ill feelings toward Trump, majorities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico support US military intervention in Venezuela against President Nicolás Maduro, new poll finds.

BORDER ROW

Milei plans to build Argentina-Bolivia border wall, citing crime

28-01-2025 09:29 Salta Province plans to build short fence near the Bolivian border as part of a crackdown on drug-trafficking and contraband.

FILM & CINEMA

'Emilia Pérez' lauded in Hollywood but criticised in Mexico

27-01-2025 13:17 New Spanish-language production starring trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón receives 13 Oscar nominations, but is slammed for misrepresenting Mexico's drug-related violence.

Hidrovía Paraná-Paraguay

Paraná-Paraguay waterway a focal point for global security policy

10-01-2025 13:44 Ongoing tussle involving major dredging companies seeking to participate in Milei government's tender. Hidrovía Paraná-Paraguay is a naval highway for the trafficking of illicit drugs to the rest of the world.

CRIME & SECURITY

‘Narco-terrorists’ make death threats against security minister, governor

02-12-2024 16:18 Security Minister Patricia Bullrich vows to clamp down on “narco-terrorists” after threats against her and Santa Fe Province Governor Maximilaino Pullaro in video.

CRIME & INSECURITY

Security success or truce? What explains the drop in violence in Rosario?

23-09-2024 15:13 Something has changed in Rosario since late 2023. The most violent city in Argentina saw a 62% drop in homicides year-on-year between January and August. Is a new zero tolerance approach working, or is there an implicit pact between the authorities and drug-gangs?

DRUG-TRAFFICKING

‘Mochileros de la cocaína’ – Rising numbers of drug ‘mule’ backpackers

12-09-2024 13:00 Farm hands, manual labourers and local guides in the north of Argentina are being coopted by criminal organisations for the overland transfer of drugs across the frontier with Bolivia, crossing mountains and valleys without caring about the weather or the visibility.

by Leonardo Nieva

DRUG-TRAFFICKING

Cocaine ‘mules’ arrested in Jujuy with capsules hidden in bodies

12-09-2024 00:54 Bolivian nationals were transporting 323 capsules of cocaine hidden on their person, reports authorities.

FEATURE

Poverty, marginalisation, cocaine: Gangs find lucrative combo

30-03-2024 06:48 Argentina's economy is in intensive care. Financial stagnation, coupled with record inflation and the slashing of public spending have resulted in rising poverty and marginalisation. But in every crisis some see opportunity, and this time, it is crime groups. With drug-trafficking expanding in the barrios, analysts warn of new complex dynamics in the long run.

by Josefina Salomon*, In.Visibles

EDITORIAL

Belling terror

16-03-2024 06:41 The solution to drug crime bloodshed in Rosario is far from being as brutally simple as the problem, as some would seem to think.

CRIME & INSECURITY

Rosario is always near

16-03-2024 06:25 As with so many other matters, Argentina’s leaders have not lived up to the challenge of efficiently combatting drug-trafficking. Yet it would be a mistake to confine the responsibility for Rosario’s bloody violence to politics.

by Javier Calvo

CRIME & SECURITY

Federal troops arrive in Rosario as drug violence, paralyses city

14-03-2024 21:53 After a week marked by a wave of violence, murder and drug-trafficking, 450 reinforcements arrive in troubled city, adding to the 2,000 members of the Coast Guard, Border Guard, Federal Police and Airport Security Force who are providing support.

CRIME & SECURITY

Bullrich unveils new protocol for federal forces, relaxes rules on use of weapons

14-03-2024 11:00 Security Minister outlines new protocol for federal security forces, which will allow officers to shoot in order to prevent a criminal from escaping; "We don't want more Chocobar cases," declares Bullrich in reference to notorious 2017 incident.