Latest data reports that the rise in taxes applied to cigarette purchases has led to an exponential increase in cigarette contraband; it is now estimated that in the country 5 out of 10 cigarettes are illegally imported and sold

A new Chinese embassy building has been inaugurated in Managua, as Nicaragua deepened diplomatic and economic ties with China through expanded cooperation in areas like infrastructure, trade, education and health since reestablishing relations in 2021

The DEA has been replaced with a limited-capacity Russian customs agency in a new anti-drug agreement, raising concerns over its effectiveness in combating organized crime and maintaining regional intelligence cooperation

The Nicaraguan government has dissolved the Union of Journalists and 15 other NGOs, bringing the total banned since 2018 to 5.670 in a sustained crackdown on independent civil society