cartels

United States military personnel are taking part in Ecuador’s fight against drug trafficking, according to a Semafor report. The deployment signals deepening security cooperation between Washington and Quito as Ecuador grapples with surging cartel violence. The news has drawn attention across the region, with observers weighing what a direct US military role means for Ecuador’s sovereignty and its hardline security strategy.

The United Arab Emirates has signalled that international borders will not protect suspected criminals, in comments widely read as a warning to Christy Kinahan Sr, alleged head of the Kinahan crime cartel, who is based in Dubai. Irish media report that time may be running out for him as pressure grows on the UAE to act against figures wanted by Irish and international authorities.

The United States and Mexico are playing an international friendly, with the match underway at 0-0. Coverage focuses on line-ups and the enduring intensity of the rivalry between the two teams, described as entering a new era while keeping its hostility. Conversations are also touching on wider US-Mexico tensions, including a New York Times investigation into Arizona teenagers selling weapons to Mexican cartels.

Mexican authorities have arrested El Flaco, a narcotics trafficker wanted for his role in shipping 400 kilograms of cocaine to Acireale, Sicily, in 2020. The arrest is drawing attention in Italy, where combined searches for the United States and Mexico are trending, as readers follow cooperation between the two countries against drug cartels operating transatlantic routes.

The United States is deploying roughly 500 troops to the Rio Grande border region after a firefight between cartel members and the US Coast Guard. The deployment adds military support to border security operations amid rising tensions with drug trafficking organizations along the US-Mexico boundary.

The US military has assisted Ecuadorian forces in their first joint land operation targeting drug cartels, according to a source cited by ABC News. The operation marks a deepening of security cooperation between Washington and Quito as Ecuador battles escalating cartel violence. The news is drawing attention across the region, with observers weighing what US military involvement on the ground could mean for the fight against drug trafficking.

A former mistress of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán says his dream was to be a singer, revealing the cartel kingpin craved music stardom. Her comments have drawn attention as a rare personal glimpse into the life of the convicted Sinaloa cartel leader, known worldwide for his prison escapes and criminal empire.

A former mistress of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman says the convicted Mexican cartel leader once dreamed of becoming a singer before turning to crime. Her account offers a rare personal glimpse into the Sinaloa cartel boss, who is serving a life sentence in the United States, and has drawn wide attention to his little-known early ambitions.

The United States is considering withdrawing part of its military forces stationed in Europe and redeploying them to the Western Hemisphere, as part of a Pentagon plan to intensify operations against drug cartels. The reported plan adds to concerns among European allies already worried about waning American security commitments, and comes as Washington steps up counter-narcotics efforts closer to home.

Danish-Afghan journalist Nagieb Khaja said Afghans have been the victims of the U.S. military, the Taliban, cartels and other armed groups for decades. Speaking on Democracy Now!, he argued that ordinary Afghans have suffered at the hands of multiple occupying and insurgent forces alike, rather than being served by any of them. His remarks add to ongoing debate over the legacy of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and the country's situation under Taliban rule.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have rested their cases in the murder trial of a suspected Mexican cartel member in Oconto County, Wisconsin. The jury will now hear closing arguments and deliberate on the charges. Local outlet WBAY is covering the proceedings, which have drawn regional attention given the alleged cartel connection to an otherwise quiet part of the state.