No idea about the rest of latin america but Brazil's situation is bad. It's estimated that organized crime gangs dominate over a quarter of Brazil's continental territory.
They have essentially created an informal government. They have leaders, armies, territory, laws, tribunals, subjects, even goddamn taxes. They pulled off a stealthy unannounced secession.
The lines between the official government and organized crime are increasingly blurry. People speculate that they control politicians, judges. To me it feels like they're merging into one. This never really gets proven to the point something gets done about it but that's what it feels like to me and I don't think I'm alone. Crime has become normalized. It's just an everyday normal thing now.
https://archive.ph/lnAx0
Sales are at a record as the middle class seeks protection against increasingly visible violent crime.