This week, InSight Crime looks at Ecuador’s evolving security crisis, where violence has subsided following President Daniel Noboa’s declaration of war against gangs. How long can this lull last when the state faces a well-resourced enemy and a complex criminal landscape?
Also in Ecuador, a record-breaking 22-ton cocaine seizure has underlined the success of international intelligence support to the country, but it is unlikely to change Ecuador’s role as a key cocaine hub.
Nearby, Bolivia’s own record cocaine seizures have highlighted the country’s increasing importance as both a cocaine producer and exporter.
We also report from La Libertad in Peru, where a delayed response to the latest violence carried out by illegal mining gangs against gold mining companies could see attacks spread to other parts of the country.
Gold has also been a problem in Brazil, where we assess the Lula administration’s ongoing fight against illegal mining following the news that new mines have appeared in protected Indigenous lands despite earlier crackdowns.
And finally, we look ahead to four key presidential elections in the region this year: El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. We analyze the role organized crime will play in each election, and the threats winners will face once they take power.
