The drug wars
A few years old now, NPR's John Burnett's series on narcotrafficking through Central America: a modern example of the kinds of contraband routes that were also prevalent (with different cargo) in the colonial period.
The Los Angeles Times' series on the Mexican drug wars
There is a lot of talk about legalization and decriminalization of marijuana these days! Here's a recent report from Time magazine on Portugal's policies
Really excellent background paper on current counternarcotics approaches globally, from the Brookings Institute
Hugo Chávez
This blogger doesn't like him...
This one used to -- but no more!
Alma Guillermoprieto has mixed feelings (Raynor subscribes to the NY Review of Books, have your ID handy)