Guatemala

Guatemala’s criminal organizations are the most sophisticated and dangerous in Central America. Some of them have been in operation for decades. They include former members of the military, intelligence agencies and active members of the police. Transporting illegal drugs north comprises the bulk of their activity, but organized crime in Guatemala is also involved in marijuana and poppy cultivation, as well as human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, arms smuggling, adoption rings, eco trafficking and other illegal enterprises. They often work with groups from Mexico, Colombia and other Central American nations. And they have the potential to expand and command other Central American nations’ underworlds.

Guatemala News and Investigations

Guatemala Criminal Groups

  • Juan Chamale
    Juan Chamale Juan Alberto Ortiz Lopez, alias ‘Juan Chamale,’ is ranked by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as Guatemala’s number one drug trafficker. Ortiz operates with his group in the…
  • Lorenzanas
    Lorenzanas The Lorenzanas are a traditional contraband family, who, over time, became enmeshed in the lucrative drug trade. Despite the capture of the family's patriarch, Waldemar Lorenzana, in April 2011, they…
  • Leones
    Leones The Leones, who operate along the Eastern border with Honduras and El Salvador, were car thieves and cattle rustlers before entering the drug trade. Much of their business was via…
  • Zetas
    Zetas The Zetas, once the military wing of the Gulf Cartel, are now among one of the most violent groups in Mexico, with a growing presence in neighboring Guatemala. The Zetas…
  • Sinaloa Cartel
    Sinaloa Cartel The Sinaloa Cartel, often described as the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere, is an alliance of some of Mexico’s top capos. The coalition's members…

Guatemala News Map

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