Organized Crime Guide

A Journalist’s Guide to Investigating Drug Trafficking

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Covering drug trafficking is inherently difficult and can be dangerous. Information is also scant. In most cases, it is best to begin by getting the best data possible. However, in all cases, proceed with caution: data on drug trafficking, especially drug seizures, gives you only a small part of the picture and can even distort reality in some cases.

Guatemala

For Zetas, Guatemala is the New Mexico

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(Editor’s Note: This story was a joint project of elPeriódico in Guatemala and Fundación MEPI in Mexico, written by Paola Hurtado and originally published on October 2, 2011. For the original Spanish, see elPeriódico.)

Mexico’s most ruthless drug cartel, the Zetas, have expanded throughout Guatemala in the last four years to the point where they control three quarters of the drug trade in this strategically-placed Central American country.