ABSTRACT
Two decades ago, the Coast Guard, the DEA, and allied US agencies cracked down on cocaine shipments into Florida and other Southeast states. The exporters quickly chose Central America as the new avenue for sending drugs to Mexico en route to America - with Guatemala suffering the worst ravages of criminality. Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom, who swore the presidential oath on January 14, 2008, is a thin, tall man with long bony fingers. Throughout his tenure, he wore a gaunt face and his yellowed teeth betrayed effects of chain-smoking. Overdick and his Mexican allies profited from murdering El Juancho, but at a steep price. As Los Zetas settled into Cobán, they began to take advantage of the lax police presence and submissive populace. Guatemala served well as a training ground. Los Zetas exuded such belief in their safety in the country that they reached south along the isthmus.
