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Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
He escaped a 'panic house' in Mexico, where young drug users end up as hit men — or dead
The young man said he's lived in fear ever since he developed an addiction to drugs and later fell prey to drug trafficking in Guanajuato, central Mexico. 'Unfortunately, they've already killed my best friend and my relatives,' said the 19-year-old, whose name is being withheld since he's afraid of reprisals. 'Drug addiction led me to a critical condition. I couldn't find a way out, and I was scared,' he told Noticias Telemundo. A year ago, he managed to escape from a panic house (also known as panicueva, or panic cave) commonly used by organized crime gangs in Mexico. Some of these buildings, located in Guanajuato and other states where drug use is rampant, also serve as recruitment bases for young people selected to become hit men and operatives for these criminal groups. 'It's the place where you can go, buy your drugs, and get high right there,' said another 19-year-old who managed to escape a panic house and was interviewed by Noticias Telemundo on the condition that he remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. "I entered a panic house and saw several women who had to prostitute themselves, and several of my friends got involved in selling drugs and ended up being killed,' said the young man. He said he spent five years living in one of the houses and eventually joined a local gang. According to the latest report issued by the Mexican government, Guanajuato is the state with the highest number of homicides (980 from January to April). In February, the daily average reached 12.5. Last year, the Victimization and Security Perception Survey revealed that 87.5% of the population in Guanajuato considered public safety to be the most serious problem in the state. "They've put a gun to my head, they've threatened me, they've told me I'm done, that's it. But the most horrible thing I've seen is how they killed my best friend,' the young man said, referring to his experience in the shelters. 'I was required to do many things ... they send us to train to use a firearm, all of that comes together and from there come the hit men, from there come the thieves, the hawks,' he said, referring to the murderers, thieves and drug traffickers. Guanajuato is grappling with gang clashes over criminal activities such as fuel trafficking, and is also the epicenter of a growing methamphetamine epidemic. According to data from the Federal Ministry of Health, the addiction rate to this drug in the state grew 449% over the past 20 years. For David Miranda, a counselor at the Las Joyas de León Addiction Assistance Center, a civil association, the rise in methamphetamine use is creating a social crisis in the state. "They're recruiting more minors, ages 12 to 17,' Miranda said. 'Within these 'panic houses,' they recruit many minors who are now hit men.' Noticias Telemundo visited the Las Joyas neighborhood in the municipality of León, where, according to the state's Security Secretariat, criminal groups have taken over a 380-unit housing complex. 'The situation in León right now is demanding and very serious,' Miranda said. 'Inside those houses there are women, girls, minors, and you see drug trafficking, trafficking of women, trafficking of everything." Most panic houses are in working-class neighborhoods like Las Joyas. According to the state government, there could be up to 60,000 homes across Guanajuato currently being used for illegal drug use. 'In fact, you can see a panic house on any corner, anywhere. It's very easy to find them. There are many abandoned houses,' one of the young men interviewed by Noticias Telemundo said. According to state figures, at least 10 people have been murdered in panic houses in the last two years, and around 400 neighborhoods in the state are struggling with high crime rates. 'León is the number one city in terms of drug dealing,' said Juan Mauro González, Guanajuato's secretary of security. "Drug houses" aren't unique to Mexico; similar trends exist in other countries, such as drug houses in the United States or drug dens in Spain. 'While criminals may be attracted to abandoned houses, these are also spaces where potential victims and criminals tend to converge without surveillance. Our results support the idea that abandoned houses also generate crime,' said Lauren C. Porter, a professor at the University of Maryland who co-wrote a study on the issue. "The most important thing to rehabilitate people is to change their mindset. They have to say they don't want that anymore, that they no longer want to suffer or be in that world where they were humiliated, abused, and forced to do things. They should want a different life; we do the rest and we help them,' said Miranda, who said his addiction center has a capacity to serve 150 people. Meanwhile, young people like the ones interviewed by Noticias Telemundo continue to struggle to avoid falling back into addiction and the dangers of the "haunted houses" that abound on some areas of Guanajuato. 'I'm scared. I don't want them to catch me again and force me to do things,' said one of the men, who told Noticias Telemundo he wants to move to another neighborhood and have an honest job as a pizza maker, as he enjoys feeding people. 'My life is already very ruined, I was very humiliated,' he said. 'It's time to make a change.' An earlier version of this story was first published in Noticias Telemundo. This article was originally published on
NBC News
01-07-2025
- NBC News
He escaped a 'panic house' in Mexico, where young drug users end up as hit men — or dead
The young man said he's lived in fear ever since he developed an addiction to drugs and later fell prey to drug trafficking in Guanajuato, central Mexico. 'Unfortunately, they've already killed my best friend and my relatives,' said the 19-year-old, whose name is being withheld since he's afraid of reprisals. 'Drug addiction led me to a critical condition. I couldn't find a way out, and I was scared,' he told Noticias Telemundo. A year ago, he managed to escape from a panic house (also known as panicueva, or panic cave) commonly used by organized crime gangs in Mexico. Some of these buildings, located in Guanajuato and other states where drug use is rampant, also serve as recruitment bases for young people selected to become hit men and operatives for these criminal groups. 'It's the place where you can go, buy your drugs, and get high right there,' said another 19-year-old who managed to escape a panic house and was interviewed by Noticias Telemundo on the condition that he remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. "I entered a panic house and saw several women who had to prostitute themselves, and several of my friends got involved in selling drugs and ended up being killed,' said the young man. He said he spent five years living in one of the houses and eventually joined a local gang. According to the latest report issued by the Mexican government, Guanajuato is the state with the highest number of homicides (980 between January and April 2025). In February 2025, the daily average reached 12.5. Last year, the Victimization and Security Perception Survey revealed that 87.5% of the population in Guanajuato considered public safety to be the most serious problem in the state. "They've put a gun to my head, they've threatened me, they've told me I'm done, that's it. But the most horrible thing I've seen is how they killed my best friend,' the young man said, referring to his experience in the shelters. 'I was required to do many things ... they send us to train to use a firearm, all of that comes together and from there come the hit men, from there come the thieves, the hawks,' he said, referring to the murderers, thieves and drug traffickers. 'They are recruiting more minors' Guanajuato is grappling with gang clashes over criminal activities such as fuel trafficking, and is also the epicenter of a growing methamphetamine epidemic. According to data from the Federal Ministry of Health, the addiction rate to this drug in the state grew 449% over the past 20 years. For David Miranda, a counselor at the Las Joyas de León Addiction Assistance Center, a civil association, the rise in methamphetamine use is creating a social crisis in the state. "They're recruiting more minors, ages 12 to 17,' Miranda said. 'Within these 'panic houses,' they recruit many minors who are now hit men.' Noticias Telemundo visited the Las Joyas neighborhood in the municipality of León, where, according to the state's Security Secretariat, criminal groups have taken over a 380-unit housing complex. 'The situation in León right now is demanding and very serious,' Miranda said. 'Inside those houses there are women, girls, minors, and you see drug trafficking, trafficking of women, trafficking of everything." Most panic houses are in working-class neighborhoods like Las Joyas. According to the state government, there could be up to 60,000 homes across Guanajuato currently being used for illegal drug use. 'In fact, you can see a panic house on any corner, anywhere. It's very easy to find them. There are many abandoned houses,' one of the young men interviewed by Noticias Telemundo said. 'I don't want to be caught again' According to state figures, at least 10 people have been murdered in panic houses in the last two years, and around 400 neighborhoods in the state are struggling with high crime rates. 'León is the number one city in terms of drug dealing,' said Juan Mauro González, Guanajuato's secretary of security. "Drug houses" aren't unique to Mexico; similar trends exist in other countries, such as drug houses in the United States or drug dens in Spain. 'While criminals may be attracted to abandoned houses, these are also spaces where potential victims and criminals tend to converge without surveillance. Our results support the idea that abandoned houses also generate crime,' said Lauren C. Porter, a professor at the University of Maryland who co-authored a study on the issue. "The most important thing to rehabilitate people is to change their mindset. They have to say they don't want that anymore, that they no longer want to suffer or be in that world where they were humiliated, abused, and forced to do things. They should want a different life; we do the rest and we help them,' said Miranda, who said his addiction center has a capacity to serve 150 people. Meanwhile, young people like the ones interviewed by Noticias Telemundo continue to struggle to avoid falling back into addiction and the dangers of the "haunted houses" that abound on some areas of Guanajuato. 'I'm scared. I don't want them to catch me again and force me to do things,' said one of the men, who told Noticias Telemundo he wants to move to another neighborhood and have an honest job as a pizza maker, as he enjoys feeding people. 'My life is already very ruined, I was very humiliated,' he said. 'It's time to make a change.'
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Sabah urges Federal action on CT PET Scan, heart centre
James receives a memento from Dr Maria. KOTA KINABALU (June 11): The Federal Ministry of Health has been urged to expedite the delivery of a CT PET scan machine to Sabah to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment in the state. Sabah Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib stressed that the equipment is vital for detecting and managing cancers, especially women's cancers, which are on the rise. 'I have repeatedly reminded the Ministry that delays in providing this equipment lead to increased cancer cases every month and every year, as we are unable to detect cancer at an early stage,' he said during the 17th Sabah Health Department Public Health Colloquium 2025, held at the Hilton Hotel on Wednesday. This year's colloquium carries the theme 'Aligning SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) for a Sustainable and Healthier Future for All,' addressing both current and future health challenges. Speaking at a press conference later, James said he has been actively lobbying for the CT PET scan machine to be allocated to Sabah. He highlighted that cancer patients currently have to travel to Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia for the scan, which costs about RM3,000 per session. 'This places a burden on our people. If we had the CT PET scan here, it could be provided free of charge and help reduce cancer incidence through earlier detection. A site has already been prepared at the Likas Women and Children's Hospital,' he added. James also praised the GRS-PH state government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor for contributing 100 dialysis machines to the Health Ministry, which will be distributed across Sabah's hospitals and clinics. He further called on the Federal ministry to accelerate the construction and upgrading of facilities at the Sabah Heart Institute at Queen Elizabeth Hospital II, following a RM80 million allocation announced by the Prime Minister. 'Heart disease is widespread in rural areas like Pitas. I've seen the facilities in Serdang Hospital, where heart specialists are abundant, but Sabah still lacks such expertise,' he said. James voiced concern about the shortage of heart specialists in Sabah and urged the government to retain those already serving, warning that equipment alone is useless without skilled professionals to operate it. He also plans to meet the Federal Health Minister on Thursday to discuss rural doctors' allowances. He urged for exemptions from the federal allowance freeze for doctors in Sabah and Sarawak. 'Many rural doctors want to leave. There's no difference in allowance between rural and urban postings. In some areas, there's no electricity, no clean water, not even a way to charge a phone. Doctors have to travel into town just to do that,' he explained. James proposed eliminating all wooden clinics in Sabah by 2026, noting that around 30 such clinics remain. 'These old buildings are an embarrassment — some lack proper staircases or sanitation,' he said. He described the poor conditions of rural doctors' hostels as 'resembling pigsties,' with decades-old cushions still in use. 'West Malaysians don't want to work in areas where they can't even charge their phones. Who would, except Sabahans themselves?' Expressing frustration, he asked, 'What have the past ministers done? Are they unaware of the rural plight? Even medical assistants have to act as doctors because we lack personnel willing to serve in remote areas.' Nonetheless, he expressed gratitude to Peninsular Malaysia doctors who choose to serve in Sabah. 'Don't be racist and say you're from Peninsular Malaysia. If they didn't come, our clinics and hospitals would shut down,' he said. James emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between state and federal agencies, particularly the Health Ministry, noting historical coordination issues. He also gave an update on Tawau hospital facilities, stating improvements have been made, and the heart centre there is expected to be operational soon. Regarding the Ministry of Health's Training Institute (ILKKM), James noted that longstanding issues have been addressed. 'I criticised the ministry for neglecting it since 2016 — beds were in terrible condition. But thanks to persistence, 1,350 mattresses and beds have now been provided nationwide.' He concluded by urging Health Department staff to remain enthusiastic and prepared for increasingly complex public health challenges, particularly in light of Malaysia's ageing population. 'Malaysia is expected to become an ageing nation by 2030, with 15% of the population aged 60 and above,' he noted. 'There are more elderly now because they've learned to take care of their health.' Also present at the event was Sabah Health Department director Dr Maria Suleiman.
Al Taghyeer
24-05-2025
- Health
- Al Taghyeer
Khartoum cholera outbreak due to environmental degradation, minister
There are over 600 confirmed cases of cholera per week during the past four weeks, the health minister said, adding that this increase was expected because of prevailing poor environmental conditions. Khartoum: Altaghyeer Sudanese Minister for Health, Haytham Mohamed Ibrahim, has attributed the cholera outbreak in Khartoum state to environmental degradation following the army recapture of areas and the return of residents, particularly in Jebel Awlia and Salha quarters south and west of Khartoum respectively, with acute lack of clean drinking water and poor environmental conditions. The minister said in press statements on Saturday between 600 to 700 cholera cases were being confirmed weekly over the past couple of weeks, adding that this increase was expected given the spreading of poor environmental conditions. The minister praised the efforts exerted by Khartoum State government in collaboration with UN agencies and international organizations, resulting in the establishment of at least 8 cholera treatment centres and boosted disease control efforts. Cholera resurgence has also been reported in six other states including al-Gezira, central Sudan, where localities like al-Haj Abdullah took the drastic precautionary measure of closing down schools and markets places, according to news reports. Al-Taj Abdel Rahman, working at the city's main hospital, revealed that 46 cases and 6 deaths were reported over the past six days. The Health Minister has, however, stressed that the health situation was fully under continuous monitoring by the Federal Ministry of Health's Emergency Room, which works around the clock to implement the required measures. He confirmed that the upcoming cholera vaccination campaign will contribute to reducing the number of cases. The two year old war, between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has led to a catastrophic collapse of medical services coupled with the spread of diseases and threat of famine.
Business Recorder
08-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Emergency enforced in all public-sector hospitals in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has enforced health emergency in all the public sector hospitals following Indian attack on multiple location in the country. Federal Minister for National Health Services and Coordination Mustafa Kamal made this announcement here on Wednesday as a part of urgent measures in response to the crisis. Emergency has been enforced in all public hospitals in Islamabad, and all medical staff have been instructed to remain fully alert and prepared to respond at any moment. All scheduled leaves of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and administrative personnel under the Federal Ministry of Health and its subordinate institutions have been cancelled with immediate effect. All employees are required to report to duty without delay. The ministry has directed all the provincial health secretaries to maintain constant coordination with the federal health authorities. They have also been directed to regularly update their emergency response plans in accordance with evolving federal guidelines. In view of the national emergency, Minister Kamal has cancelled his official visits to Geneva and Qatar. 'At this moment, my top priority is to focus on the domestic situation and ensure the protection of public health,' he stated. A 24/7 Emergency Quick Response Centre has been established at the Federal Health Institution. This centre will assess health-related emergencies stemming from the ongoing conflict and coordinate immediate response efforts. It will maintain direct communication with all provincial and district health authorities to ensure a synchronised and efficient approach. Kamal, has strongly denounced the Indian missile attack that struck civilian areas and targeted a mosque, calling it a blatant violation of international norms and an attack on humanity. The minister said, 'By targeting innocent civilians and a place of worship, India has crossed all limits of decency and exposed its extremist mindset. This is not merely an assault on Pakistan—it is an attack on the entire Muslim Ummah.' Calling the act a 'cowardly and unforgivable crime,' Kamal criticised the Modi administration for what he described as an act of provocation. 'India's actions reflect the true face of its leadership. The targeting of a mosque lays bare the deep-rooted extremism driving Indian policy,' he stated. Kamal emphasised that Pakistan's commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness. 'The era of silence is over. The time has come to respond to the enemy in a language it understands,' he said, underscoring the nation's readiness to defend its sovereignty. He said, 'Every citizen of Pakistan today stands firmly with our military. We are united, resolute, and prepared to confront any challenge to our dignity and security,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
