Mexico’s most-wanted cartel leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho" and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed in a Mexican military operation on February 22. What has followed is extreme violence in retaliation, with tourists caught up in the chaos as well. The White House has said the US provided intelligence support for the mission that saw the death of the drug lord.
Violence broke out after the killing, with suspected gang members setting fire to buses and businesses and clashing with security forces. Mexico’s Security Cabinet said over 250 blockades were recorded in 20 states, but most roadblocks have been removed.
Authorities said 25 arrests were made, including 11 linked to violence and 14 to alleged looting and pillaging.
As tourists describe Puerto Vallarta as a “war zone,” the US State Department has urged Americans in some areas of Mexico to stay sheltered in homes or hotels.
For many Mexicans and others around the world, however, there is no other option but to face gang life as a daily reality. Indeed, it is often the only choice in certain war-torn, politically unstable, and economically desolate countries. These nations struggle with a dark underbelly of criminality, even where the surface may seem appealing and beautiful. Think about the lush tropical rainforests of Brazil, the beautiful savannas of South Africa, and the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas.
Many of these countries have battled the existence of gangs and the violence that follows them. Click through this gallery to find out which countries have been most affected by these criminal groups.