The Latin American Report # 638

Around 200 motorcyclists in Bogotá took the law into their own hands and beat a drunk driver to death after he had been performing reckless maneuvers against them. "Approximately two hundred people on motorcycles chased a citizen who was driving a blue SUV, which (...) was ramming and performing dangerous maneuvers, affecting mobility and attempting to hit the motorcyclists," said a commander of the Bogotá Metropolitan Police in a statement cited by the Spanish agency EFE.

"The Police are verifying all the cameras (...) to determine the license plates (of the motorcycles) and identify the people who participated in this collective aggression against this citizen," added the official, while the mayor of a locality in the Colombian capital contested the mob of motorcyclists. In report #636 I commented on the case of another driver under the influence of alcohol running over 11 people, including four children. As a result of this action, two of the children were diagnosed with brain death. One of them, a fifteen-year-old, died yesterday, while another, a seven-year-old, is still being treated under brain neuroprotection protocols.

Venezuela

Indirectly, opposition leader María Corina Machado hinted that the ultimate goal of the extraordinary US military deployment in the Caribbean is the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro's government. According to Machado, who clumsily—from a strategic-practical standpoint—attempted to run in last year's elections, and now says she is in hiding—I don't think her location is unknown to the Miraflores Palace—, the country is living through "decisive hours" although she foresees a "peaceful transition". The former legislator has defended Trump's strategy, supposedly aimed at combating drug trafficking, claiming it is "absolutely correct".

I always find it problematic to understand politicians relying on external forces to resolve their nation's internal problems, but obsequiousness towards Washington is paying off well these days, looking at the cases of Argentina and, more recently, Bolivia. She said that "this time [they] will achieve [the ideal goal] because, when a people decides to be free, there is no force on Earth capable of stopping it." But in truth, the Venezuelan people—for one reason or another—seem quite resigned, for the moment, to the status quo.

Bolivia

The recently inaugurated president of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, continues to reconfigure his country's policy, both internally and in foreign policy, from very early on. For example, it is known that the return of the DEA to the country is already being considered. He is also moved to reestablish diplomatic relations with Israel.

Furthermore, emerged today that the Great House of the People has requested support from El Salvador to reform the penitentiary system and address the crisis of overcrowding and violence affecting it. "We are ready to accompany President Rodrigo Paz in this new era, with a relationship of friendship, collaboration, and mutual support," responded the vice president of Nayib Bukele's government. However, also today, a demand by several Venezuelan prisoners who were confined in the CECOT, Bukele's mega-prison, deported from the United States, became known, alleging supposed torture there, i.e., deprivation of access to water and food.

Paraguay

More than one ton of marijuana was seized in Ka’aguy Kupe, a locality in the southern department of Ñeembucú, bordering Argentina, the alleged final destination of the drugs. The seizure operation, which, as is usual in Paraguay, did not result in any arrests, is part of the so-called Operation Guaraní Shield, activated by the government of Santiago Peña to reinforce the fight against organized crime on the border, primarily in the sections shared with Argentina and Brazil, and to respond particulary to a potential threat of criminal activity shifting from the South American giant as a result of the appalling massacre unleashed by the liberal government of Rio de Janeiro in two favelas, which resulted in the death of 117 alleged criminals and four security force agents who participated in the raid.

Precisely, seven members of the Comando Vermelho gang, the one targeted in the operation, were transferred to federal penitentiary facilities in the last hours. They "will occupy individual cells, without contact with other inmates, and will remain isolated for 22 hours a day," indicated the Ministry of Justice.

Peru

Another extremely deadly road accident in the region 👇

A passenger bus fell into a deep ravine early Wednesday in southern Peru, killing at least 37 people and injuring 13 more, authorities said. https://t.co/QFa3mceUEF

— ABC News (@ABC) November 12, 2025

This is all for today’s report.