Costa Rica sends top drug trafficker, fellow cartel member to U.S.

Gilbert Bell Fernandez thanked the U.S. for taking him out of Costa Rica, claiming he had been mistreated in prison.

• Aug 14

Cartel sought to buy weapons in exchange for fentanyl, U.S. says

"In exchange for the weapons, the defendants paid in the form of fentanyl and methamphetamine imported into the United States for distribution," the Justice Department said.

• Aug 12

Popular influencer shot dead during livestream outside restaurant

Cesar Gastelum, who had more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, was broadcasting with two friends when he was killed.

• Aug 5

$25 million reward offered for U.S.-born leader of powerful cartel

Juan Carlos González is the stepson of "El Mencho," who was killed by the Mexican military.

• Aug 5

Brother of slain cartel leader "El Mencho" pleads guilty to U.S. drug charges

Antonio Oseguera Cervantes worked for cartels with his brother Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the drug lord known as "El Mencho​," according to federal prosecutors.

• Jul 31

Widow of murdered mayor arrested in extortion case in Mexico

Valentin Lavin, who was allied with President Claudia Sheinbaum's leftist party, was shot and killed during a town hall.

• Jul 28

Costa Rica captures top fugitive "Diablo," wanted by U.S.

Alejandro Arias-Monge, 41, had a $500,000 U.S. bounty on his head for alleged drug trafficking.

• Jul 24

U.S. targets California-born leader of notorious Jalisco cartel

Juan Carlos Gonzalez, also known as "Pelon," is the stepson of "El Mencho" — real name Nemesio Oseguera — who was injured and later died in a military sweep.

• Jul 24

Judge sets June trial date for Maduro

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro faces drug trafficking charges in the U.S. and is scheduled to go on trial in June 2027. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman explains what to expect from Maduro's legal proceedings.

• Jul 23
• 2:51

Mayor who survived assassination attempt shot dead in town hall

Mayor Valentin Lavin, who was allied to President Claudia Sheinbaum's leftist party, had already survived an armed attack in January, according to local media reports.

• Jul 22

Infamous cartel boss "El Mayo" Zambada sentenced to life in U.S. prison

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada ordered torture and plotted murders as he Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán grew the Sinaloa cartel into the world's largest drug trafficking organization, prosecutors said.

• Jul 20

U.S. designates cartel on Texas border as foreign terrorist organization

The Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras joined six other Mexican criminal organizations that the U.S. considers terrorist groups.

• Jul 16

Councilwoman shot, husband killed in Mexico near U.S. border

Maria de Jesus Quijada was shot at while traveling in a vehicle with her family. Her husband did not survive.

• Jul 16

Cartel violence hits World Cup despite warnings: "Getting massacred"

The attacks came as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has spent months grappling with how to address endemic criminal violence in Mexico.

• Jul 9

Mexico probing possible U.S. violation in drug lord capture: "Someone lied"

Mexico said it is investigating whether its sovereignty was violated by the United States in the 2024 capture of drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

• Jul 7

U.S. announces new bank alert targeting powerful drug cartel

Two men and nine companies are accused of being tied to a cartel-linked fuel theft ring intended to evade taxes while generating tens of millions of dollars annually.

• Jun 30

Trump-backed populist elected Colombian president

Abelardo de la Espriella, a Trump-backed conservative candidate who has never held public office, narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff election Sunday. CBS News correspondent Lilia Luciano reports.

• Jun 22
• 3:41

Latest U.S. strike on alleged drug boat kills 1, leaves 2 survivors, Pentagon says

Critics have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes as well as their effectiveness since the U.S. military began them in September 2025.

• Jun 16

Trump says U.S. killed Tren de Aragua leader in airstrike in Venezuela

The U.S. military has killed Niño Guerrero, the alleged leader of Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua, President Trump announced Friday.

• Jun 12

Fugitive linked to cartel found hiding in bathroom of private jet

Officials found three passengers in the cabin and their suspect hiding in the lavatory, Bali immigration authorities said.

• Jun 11

5 police officers shot dead in Mexico as World Cup kicks off

Five Mexican police officers were killed and five others wounded on the eve of the World Cup opener in Mexico City, authorities said.

• Jun 11

4th U.S. strike in a week on alleged drug boat kills 3 people

More than 200 people have been killed in the monthslong campaign against alleged drug boats traversing the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific.

• May 31

Another alleged drug boat struck by U.S. military in eastern Pacific, killing 2

The U.S. military said it struck another vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two men, the day after it said a similar strike killed one man and left two survivors.

• May 28

1 killed, 2 survive U.S. strike on boat in Eastern Pacific, SOUTHCOM says

At least 193 people have been killed in the Trump administration's campaign of missile strikes on boats it claims are trafficking drugs in Latin American waters.

• May 26

U.S.-wanted nephew of drug lord "El Chapo" is captured in Mexico

The nephew of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is sought by U.S. authorities, officials said.

• May 26

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