Extortion
Extortion plagues much of Latin America. The pernicious crime plays out in many ways, and citizens suffer.
News Analysis
Loan Sharks Circle as Latin America Reels From Pandemic
As workers across Latin America struggle to stay afloat amid economic strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, loan sharks offering abusive interest rates have cornered the market, forcing workers seeking…
Guatemala’s Anti-Extortion Plan: A Legacy of Unkept Promises
It was one of Alejandro Giammattei’s most emphatic promises. One year later, the Interior Ministry supported his strategy to reduce extortions by cutting off access to communication devices among the…
Shrimp Gangs Rob, Extort, Kill in Ecuador
The persistent robbery, extortion, assault and even murder of shrimp farm workers by armed gangs in Ecuador has led the shrimp sector to once more demand gun reforms, in a…
Intercepts Show How Brazil Police Extort PCC
“Plata o Plomo” is an overused phrase to describe the way criminals threaten officials and civilians to ensure compliance with their wishes. In one Brazilian case, it seems more appropriately…
Contraband Turns to Bloodshed Between Ecuador and Peru
A series of assassinations on Ecuador’s southern border with Peru have been attributed to gang members fighting for control of the illegal crossings by which both people and contraband are…
From Predators to Partners: How Gangs are Taking San Salvador
This is the second part of a three-part series on San Salvador’s Historic Center, the heart of the country’s informal urban markets and a long-time bastion of the street gangs.
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