Global Crackdown on Organized Crime Intensifies

Thirteen suspected members of a Mexican drug cartel were killed in a shootout with police in the state of Sinaloa, where a conflict between factions of the cartel has been ongoing for over a year, resulting in at least 1,700 deaths and nearly 2,000 missing persons. The clash occurred when security personnel were attacked by gunmen hiding under a bridge in Guasave, prompting a response that led to the seizure of vehicles, weapons, and tactical equipment. The violence in Sinaloa is linked to a power struggle within the cartel following the capture of its historical leader, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, and allegations of kidnapping against him and others.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called for an investigation into a police operation in Rio de Janeiro that resulted in the deaths of 121 people. The operation targeted the Red Command drug trafficking gang and involved thousands of officers battling heavily armed men. The incident has sparked controversy, with rights activists denouncing the 'massacre' and many citizens supporting the operation. Lula's administration has faced criticism for being too lenient on crime, prompting him to propose a bill for a minimum 30-year prison sentence for gang members.

China has sentenced five individuals to death for their involvement in a criminal gang operating fraud centers in Myanmar's Kokang region. The gang was responsible for various crimes, including telecom fraud, intentional homicide, and organizing prostitution. The sentencing is part of China's efforts to crack down on scam compounds in Myanmar's lawless borderlands, which have been staffed by foreigners, many of whom claim to have been trafficked and forced to participate in online scams. The issue has become a significant concern, with the United Nations warning that Chinese and Southeast Asian gangs are making tens of billions of dollars annually through cyber scam centers. The problem has spread beyond Myanmar to other regions, including South America, Africa, and Europe.