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** What’s in a Terrorist Designation?
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Mike LaSusa, Deputy Director of Content
7 NOV, 2025
Following the deadly anti-gang raid in Rio de Janeiro ([link removed]) last week that left a triple-digit body count, I’ve been thinking about the influence of the US shift toward treating ([link removed]) Latin America’s organized crime groups as “terrorists.”
In the wake of the historically lethal operation, Rio de Janeiro state Governor Cláudio Castro invoked the threat of ([link removed]) “narcoterrorism.” Meanwhile, US strikes ([link removed]) killed half a dozen ([link removed]) more suspected drug traffickers in international waters.
For decades, the United States has set the tone for regional security policy, influencing the limits of what’s considered acceptable. Under Trump, Washington has loudly endorsed aggressive approaches, and some Latin American authorities may be taking that as permission to double down.
So-called “mano dura” policies have been tried in many contexts ([link removed]) throughout the region over many decades. Although they rarely deliver sustainable results, they remain politically popular. In Rio, a poll of more than 600 residents found more than half ([link removed]) supported the recent raid.
El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele ([link removed]) and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa ([link removed]) both secured new presidential terms by running on tough-on-crime reputations.
At the same time, other regional leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, seem to recognize the limitations of addressing organized crime through a purely militaristic lens. Lula – along with his counterparts in Mexico and Colombia – has criticized the US strikes and called for an investigation ([link removed]) into the “massacre” in Rio.
Our 15 years of experience covering organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean has shown that there’s no simple fix for this complex problem. While operations like the raid in Rio and the US strikes can temporarily shift criminal dynamics, sustainably impacting organized crime would require a more holistic approach. We’ll be watching closely as the consequences unfold.
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** Donor Exclusive Event | The Synthetic Drug Revolution: Lessons From 10 Years in The Field ([link removed])
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In this exclusive event ([link removed]) for donors, we will delve into 10+ years of on-the-ground fieldwork to explore how synthetic drugs are reshaping organized crime and creating unprecedented challenges for policymakers.
Donate here to attend ([link removed])
You may have noticed that we’ve tried to make this newsletter a bit more personal to better connect with readers like you. If you have comments or questions, let us know at
[email protected].
More about all the noteworthy stories from Latin America and the Caribbean that came across our desk this week below:
OnTheRadar (#OnTheRadar) | Editor’s Pick (#Editors-pick) | Don’t Miss (#Dont-Miss) | In the Spotlight (#In-The-Spotlight) #OnTheRadar | Audio (#Audio)
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#OnTheRadar ()
** This Week in Organized Crime ([link removed])
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◉ Paraguay targets growing influence of Brazil’s criminal networks. ([link removed])
◉ New law seeks to undermine thriving extortion market in Peru. ([link removed])
◉ Ecuador militarizes its illegal mining crackdown further with bombings. ([link removed])
Watch this Reel ([link removed])
#Editor’sPick ()
Investigations > ([link removed])
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** Why Is the US Attacking ‘Cartels’ That Don’t Exist? ([link removed])
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A cartel by definition is a single criminal organization that controls the supply chain of any drug from cultivation to street-level sales.
But the reality of drug trafficking organizations in Latin America is that they are dispersed networks that resemble most legal global supply chains. And this makes targeting them that much harder.
Explore full analysis ([link removed])
< Criminal Profiles ([link removed])
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** In the Spotlight ()
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** The Pulpos
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The Pulpos, also known as the Pulpos of Trujillo, are a transnational Peruvian gang dedicated to extortion, kidnapping, and murder-for-hire. The group emerged in the 1990s and, in recent years, has expanded its operations from the province of La Libertad, Peru, to other countries in the region, especially Chile.
** Don’t Miss ()
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🔗 How Argentina’s ‘Bribe Books’ Case Could Take Down an Ex-President ([link removed])
🔗 ([link removed]) On the Radar: Latin America Blurs the Line Between Crime and Terrorism ([link removed])
🔗 ([link removed]) Why Mexican Traffickers Are Leaving Zulia, Venezuela ([link removed])
🔗 ([link removed]) What’s Missing From the US-China Fentanyl Agreement ([link removed])
🔗 Video: How Juan Ramón Matta Ballesteros Shaped Honduras’ Drug Trade ([link removed])
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** #Audio () 4 NOV, 2025
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** Abused and Pursued: How El Salvador’s State of Emergency Went International ([link removed])
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How El Salvador’s Anti-Gang ‘Crackdown’ Went Global.
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