Plata o pomo

The most significant characters of the most modern Latin American criminal organizations

Résumé

Geo-historical and socio-economic frame. Some terminological clarifications needed. The criminal organizations in Latin America: general characteristics. Three deepen brief frameworks: the Colombian criminal organizations; the Mexican cartels; the Central American “maras” and “pandillas”. The penitentiary system as an incubator of new forms of criminal organizations. The mission of the juridical diplomacy.