[Zamastan]

In the generally peaceful, democratically looming presence of the International Democratic Union, shadowy criminal organizations exist in underlying communities. Masterful in their crafts and artists of highly centralized enterprises, the mega-rich and poverty-stricken alike find alternate ways to make their living aside from the corporate industries of the rest of the world. They are run by criminals who intend to commit illegal activity, most commonly for money and profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist groups, are politically motivated. Sometimes criminal organizations force people to do business with them for "protection". Gangs may become disciplined enough to be considered organized. A criminal organization or gang can also be referred to as a mafia, mob, or crime syndicate; the network, subculture and community of criminals may be referred to as the underworld.

Other organizations—including states, militaries, police forces, and corporations—may sometimes use organized-crime methods to conduct their activities, but their powers derive from their status as formal social institutions. There is a tendency to distinguish organized crime from other forms of crime, such as white-collar crime, financial crimes, political crimes, war crime, state crimes, and treason. This distinction is not always apparent and academics continue to debate the matter. For example, in failed states that can no longer perform basic functions such as education, security, or governance (usually due to fractious violence or to extreme poverty), organized crime, governance and war sometimes complement each other.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organized_crime

[Zamastan]

Terror Cells are in the broadest sense, known for their use of intentionally indiscriminate violence as a means to create terror among masses of people; or fear to achieve a religious or political aim. It is used in this regard primarily to refer to violence during peacetime or in war against non-combatants. The terms "terrorist" and "terrorism" gained mainstream popularity in the 1970s in news reports and books covering the Pahlan insurgent conflicts in [nation]Zamastan[/nation] and the Malvarian Liberation Front during the Wars in [nation]Vulkaria[/nation]. The increased use of suicide attacks from the 1980s onwards was typified by the Alanis Pride Parade Bombing in 1982 and other attacks subsequent to that event. Groups classified internationally as terror organizations have also historically operated in [nation]Trive[/nation], [nation]Lauchenoiria[/nation], and [nation]Shuell[/nation].

There is no commonly accepted definition of "terrorism". Being a charged term, with the connotation of something "morally wrong", it is often used, both by governments and non-state groups, to abuse or denounce opposing groups. Broad categories of political organisations have been claimed to have been involved in terrorism to further their objectives, including right-wing and left-wing political organisations, nationalist groups, religious groups, revolutionaries and ruling governments. Terrorism-related legislation has been adopted in various states, regarding "terrorism" as a crime. There is no universal agreement as to whether or not "terrorism", in some definition, should be regarded as a war crime.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism

Currently, [nation]Zamastan[/nation] classifies a man known as Van'a Kamoni as their "most-wanted-terrorist", famously labeling him as "public enemy number one, and we can't wait for the day that the prick is captured or killed." The Zamastan Intelligence Service, or ZIS, is offering a Z$35 Million award for information or intelligence leading to Kamoni's capture. He is the leader of the Malvarian Liberation Front, which still operates as one of the International Democratic Union's most bloody terrorist cells. They were famous for their large-scale, mass casualty attacks in the 1980s and 90s, but in recent years have resorted to smaller, hit and run tactics including drive by shootings, car bombings, and kidnappings. Since 2006, they have killed over 500 people in Zamastan and Gladysynthia.

https://www.theidu.us/wiki/Van%27a_Kamoni
https://www.theidu.us/wiki/Malvarian_Liberation_Front

The Gladys Popular Freedom Fighters are a separatist terror group who, via their manifesto, fight for the independence of the Danaska region of [nation]Gladysynthia[/nation]. They actions have claimed thousands of lives since the group's founding in the 70's, and they have been responsible for provoking several border skirmishes between Zamastan and Gladysynthia. They also influenced the bloody 2018 October-November Crisis.

https://www.theidu.us/wiki/Gladysynthia_Crisis

[Zamastan]

A drug cartel is any criminal organization with the intention of supplying drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking organizations reached an agreement to coordinate the production and distribution of cocaine. Since that agreement was broken up, drug cartels are no longer actually cartels, but the term stuck and it is now popularly used to refer to any criminal narcotics related organization.

The basic structure of a drug cartel is as follows:

• Falcons : Considered as the "eyes and ears" of the streets, the "falcons" are the lowest rank in any drug cartel. They are responsible for supervising and reporting the activities of the police, the military, and rival groups.

[list=]Hitmen : The armed group within the drug cartel, responsible for carrying out assassinations, kidnappings, thefts, extortions, operating protection rackets, and defending their plaza (turf) from rival groups and the military.[/list]
[list=]Lieutenants : The second highest position in the drug cartel organization, responsible for supervising the hitmen and falcons within their own territory. They are allowed to carry out low-profile murders without permission from their bosses.[/list]
[list=]Drug lords : The highest position in any drug cartel, responsible for supervising the entire drug industry, appointing territorial leaders, making alliances, and planning high-profile murders.[/list]

There are other operating groups within the drug cartels. For example, the drug producers and suppliers, although not considered in the basic structure, are critical operators of any drug cartel, along with the financiers and money launderers. In addition, the arms suppliers operate in a completely different circle, and are technically not considered part of the cartel's logistics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_cartel

One of the largest crime syndicates/drug cartels in the IDU is the S.P.I.T.Z. Armada, which is known for their business, lavish like fronts, but their violent, brutal paths that they leave behind to accomplish their goals and conflict with other groups. Standing for "Sand Point, Iustos, Trive, Zamastan" for the four countries that the cartel operates the most within, the group is regarded as the most dangerous of the world's drug cartels. While primarily concerned with drug trafficking, the organization also runs profitable sex trafficking and gun running rackets. The origins of SPITZ date back to the late 1990s, when commandos of the Sand Point deserted their ranks and began working as the enforcement arm of the National Cartel. In February 2010, the group broke away and formed their own criminal organization, rivaling the National Cartel. The group headquarters its leadership in [nation]Sand Point[/nation] and [nation]Zamastan[/nation]; the latter of which is their main-shipping hub. [nation]Trive[/nation] and [nation]Iustos[/nation] serve as their primary agricultural and production centers. SPITZ engages in violent tactics such as beheadings, torture, and indiscriminate murder. SPITZ also operates through protection rackets, assassinations, extortion, kidnappings and other activities.

[Shuell]

Following a request by [nation]Zamastan[/nation], here's an overview of Iustos.

Iustos is a tropical banana republic, under the control of Generalissimo Perez and those loyal to him.

Most of the Iustonian government is corrupt, including smaller portions of their armed forces and a large amount of police. Iustos is known for large, sprawling rainforests with only a few large cities, such as their capital of São Bartillo.

The S.P.I.T.Z. Armada operates within Iustos, using it as one of their agricultural and production centers. As well, many smaller cartels operate as well, though none close to the scale of SPITZ.

Drug use and prostitution is rampant - which some believe are the main reasons for the thriving tourist industry. The Incorporated States of Shuell has a large hand in Iustonian affairs, even more so following their assistance in quelling a coup.

It is not uncommon for gunfights to take place in the slums of Iustos, along with acts of vigilante justice and gang murders.