Serbien ist auf der Suche nach seinem wohl mächtigsten Mafia-Boss: Darko Sarics Clan gilt als Hauptlieferant für Kokain in ganz Westeuropa und soll außerdem die Ermordung führender serbischer Politiker, darunter Präsident Boris Tadic, geplant haben. Rund 30 Mio. Euro soll Saric dafür bereitgestellt haben, die Namen vermerkte er auf zwei Todeslisten. Im April wurde der "Kokainkönig" wegen Drogenschmuggels angeklagt. Für Serbiens Justiz geht es in dem Fall jedoch um viel mehr als nur Rauschgifthandel.

orf.at
Serbischer Mafia-Boss Darko Saric (Geschäftspartner der Hypo Alpe Adria), setzte Berufskiller auf Präsident Tadic an
nachrichten.at
old zack

More than 22,700 people have been killed in Mexico's drug war since a U.S.-backed military crackdown on cartels began more than three years ago, according to a government report.

The report said 2009 was the deadliest year in the drug war, with 9,635 people killed in violence tied to organized crime. That compares to 2,837 in 2007, the first year of President Felipe Calderon's military-led offensive.

jg-tc.com

Darko Saric wird wegen Drogenschmuggels im ganz großen Stil per Haftbefehl gesucht. Nun gaben die Behörden bekannt, was der gebürtige Serbe mit seinen illegalen Geschäften verdient: Demnach soll der 40-Jährige eine Milliarde Euro gescheffelt haben - im Jahr.

spiegel.de
orf.at
bluewin.ch
Hat Hypo Alpe Adria Drogengeld gewaschen?
Drogenboss kaufte Medien und Parteien in Serbien
Security Firm connected to Drug Lord [reportingproject.net]
b92.net

A Mexican magazine that published an interview with a Sinaloa drug cartel leader says its distribution in the area has been hampered by intimidation.

bbc.co.uk
old zack

Violence in Mexico has escalated dramatically in recent years. In 2009 alone, at least 6,500 people were killed in apparent drug-related incidents, and more than 2,000 have already died in such violence this year. The recent killings of three people linked to the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juárez (just across the border from El Paso) have left many wondering whether the situation is hopeless.

In Mexico last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lamented the “cycle of violence and crime that has affected communities on both sides of the border” and pledged continued U.S. engagement. With Washington's support, the Mexican government has been pursuing an aggressive multiyear campaign to confront criminal groups tied to the drug trade. To understand those efforts' chances of success, let's look beyond five common misperceptions about Mexico's plight.

chron.com

One of Mexico's most famous drug lords said in a rare interview published Sunday that he lives in fear of getting caught and believes the military has closed in on him four times.

"I'm terrified of being incarcerated," Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada told the Mexican news magazine, Proceso, adding that he would even contemplate suicide if he was about to be caught. "I'd like to think that yes, I would kill myself."

forbes.com
reuters.com
Ismael "el Mayo" Zambada

Reporting from Mexico City - Drug traffickers fighting to control northern Mexico have turned their guns and grenades on the Mexican army, authorities said, in an apparent escalation of warfare that played out across multiple cities in two border states.

In coordinated attacks, gunmen in armored cars and equipped with grenade launchers fought army troops this week and attempted to trap some of them in two military bases by cutting off access and blocking highways, a new tactic by Mexico's organized criminals.

latimes.com

SCHOOLCHILDREN in Britain are being taught how cocaine production in South America is destroying the rainforest and driving a rare bird to extinction.

Colombia’s leaders hope that highlighting the problem will not only encourage youngsters to turn their backs on the drug but force the criminals out of business too.

The country’s campaigning vice president Francisco Santos met Government ministers last week to launch a drive that will link the drug and its effects on the environment.

express.co.uk