Guatemala extends state of siege in violent north

Published November 17, 2014

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom says he is extending a state of siege in a violent province on the border with Mexico that has been taken over by Mexico's brutal Zetas drug gang.

Colom says the monthlong state of siege that began on Dec. 19 when hundreds of police and soldiers were sent to Alta Verapaz province has been successful but that he'll extend it an extra month "because more needs to be done."

The measure lets the army detain suspects without warrants, conduct warrantless searches, prohibit gun possession and public gatherings, and control the local news media.

The Zetas began controlling cocaine traffic in the area in 2008 after killing Guatemalan drug boss Juan Jose "Juancho" Leon.

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