Gold has taken centre stage in 2025, with prices climbing by nearly 60 % so far this year to trade around US $4,250 per ounce, according to Trading Economics data.

Latin America has long been associated with high crime rates, violent cartels, and drug trafficking networks that dominate global headlines. Countries like El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico are often cited for their struggles with narco-violence, gang warfare, and soaring homicide rates.