Latin America's Fight Against Growing Crime

In 2025, Latin America saw a big change in its politics. This change happened because of the growing power of organized crime. For almost 20 years, the region had been stable. But now, crime groups are causing more violence and moving into new areas. There are now 39 crime groups operating in Latin America. These groups are working together in new ways. They are not just active in one country. They are also working across borders and even continents. This makes it harder for governments to stop them. One reason these groups are growing is because they are doing more than just drug trafficking. They are also involved in extortion, contract killings, smuggling, and human trafficking. This gives them more money and power. It also makes it harder for governments to control them. Another problem is that the justice system is not strong enough to deal with these groups. Prisons are not secure. They have become places where criminals can plan their activities. Courts are also not prepared to handle these complex cases.The rise of organized crime has also led to more migration. People are leaving their homes because of the violence. This creates new problems. Criminals can hide among migrants. They can also recruit new members. The situation is different in each country. Some countries are more affected than others. In 2025, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, and Haiti were among the most dangerous countries in the world. This is because of the high levels of violence and the number of armed groups. The rise in violence has also led to a shift in politics. More countries are electing right-wing governments. These governments promise to be tough on crime. They use more police and military force. They also work more with foreign intelligence agencies. But experts say this is not enough. They believe that governments need to do more to stop organized crime. They need to target the money that these groups make. They also need to help communities that are vulnerable to crime.