Crime & Violence in Mexico & El Salvador (Lp8282015)

Violence, crime and national security provide the themes this week on Latin Pulse. First, the program reviews security in Mexico, and discusses the rise of various cartels, especially the Sinaloa Cartel. Another in-depth part of the program deals with the crisis in El Salvador due to the involvement of street gangs in a transportation strike. Both segments discuss how the central governments in these countries do not have the power to stop the criminal groups. The news segment of the program covers the border crisis between Venezuela and Colombia due to unauthorized immigration, violence and the influence of criminal groups. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Jo Tuckman of The Guardian; and Hector Silva of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. The photo is of cocaine bricks stamped with a scorpion, a sign associated with the Sinaloa Cartel according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The photo is from the DEA and is in the public domain. Produced for release on Aug. 28, 2015.