drug trade

A farmer cleans a coca crop in Cauca, Colombia, on Jan. 27, 2017.

UN reaches a deal to help rid Colombia of cocaine

Economics

The deal worth $315 million aims to wean farmers off growing coca — the plant that’s a raw material for cocaine (as well as teas and other uses) — by replacing it with alternative crops like coffee and cacao.

Recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City

Mexico just extradited drug lord ‘El Chapo’ to the US

Justice
Ali Nasri Shamas holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle outside his hashish factory in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Shamas says the region's hash growers are ready to turn their weapons against any Islamic militants crossing the border from Syria.

Lebanon’s drug lords say they’re ready to join the fight against ISIS

Conflict

Uruguay becomes the first nation to oversee a fully legal marijuana market

Conflict & Justice
Men playing in a band carrying weapons in the desert

Drug lords pay this Mexican-American singer to write their ballads

Arts, Culture & Media
Crystal methamphetamine

So when did North Korea become a player in the blue meth trade?

Conflict & Justice

Most people know blue crystal meth from the TV show, Breaking Bad. It’s highly pure and costly… which may be why North Koreans have entered the game.