Tracking the Sinaloa Federation’s International Presence
The Sinaloa Cartel has built up an extensive international network while other Mexican drug trafficking organizations have been vulnerable to infighting and fragmentation. Analyst Samuel Logan explores how the Sinaloans…
‘US Op Aimed at Capturing El Chapo Foiled By Mexican Forces’
US authorities planned Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's capture during Mexico's previous administration, according to a respected Mexican news source, but Mexican armed forces blocked the operation, indicating government complicity in…
Venezuelan Homicides Reach Record High In 2013
Murders in Venezuela reached a record high of 58 per day during the first four months of the year, according to police figures contested by the government, highlighting a…
‘Urabeños Now Have More Members Than ELN’
Colombian authorities say that criminal group the Urabeños now has more members than the country's second-largest guerrilla organization the National Liberation Army (ELN), highlighting the Urabeños' successful expansion.
Why Mexico Should Abolish its Preventive Detention Law
A prestigious NGO has called for Mexico to abolish the legal proceeding known as arraigo, in which suspected members of organized crime can be held without charges for up…
US Navy Testing Drones to Track Caribbean Drug Trafficking
The US Navy has begun testing new aerial equipment to detect and monitor drug trafficking in the Caribbean, an example of the technological advances being employed in regional crime…
Rio Police Occupy 3 Favelas Prior to UPP Installation
Brazilian military police have peacefully occupied three Rio de Janeiro favelas prior to introducing a new police pacification unit (UPP), while the shooting of a UPP officer in another favela…
Knights Templar Blame Self-Defense Groups For Violence In Mexico
The leader of Mexico's Caballeros Templarios drug gang has released a video blaming the government, rival cartels and citizen self-defense groups for violence in Michoacan state, after a battle…
Colombian Police Arrest One Of Italy’s Most Wanted Men
A leader of one of Italy's most powerful mafias has been arrested in Colombia's second-largest city, Medellin, indicating the ongoing ties between organized crime groups in the two nations.
Honduran Police Strike Over Pay And Conditions
Low ranking police officers in Honduras went on strike Monday over pay and work conditions, raising the question of how to successfully reform one of the most corrupt forces…
ELN: Imminent Peace Talks With Colombian Govt?
Colombia's second largest guerrilla group, the ELN, may soon begin peace talks with the government, perhaps signalling an end to its ideological war, but creating further uncertainty in the world…
Discovery of Rebel Cocaine Labs in Colombia Highlight Drug Alliances
Colombian police have destroyed 44 cocaine laboratories they say were part of an operation that brought together guerrilla groups the FARC, the ELN and the remnants of the EPL, showing…
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InSight Crime Events – Border Crime: The Northern Triangle and Tri-Border Area
Through several rounds of extensive field investigations, our researchers have analyzed and mapped out the main illicit economies and criminal groups present in 39 border departments spread across the six countries of study – the Northern Triangle trio of Guatemala, Honduras, and El…
InSight Crime’s ‘Memo Fantasma’ Investigation Wins Simón Bolívar National Journalism Prize
The staff at InSight Crime was awarded the prestigious Simón Bolívar national journalism prize in Colombia for its two-year investigation into the drug trafficker known as “Memo Fantasma,” which was…
InSight Crime – From Uncovering Organized Crime to Finding What Works
This project began 10 years ago as an effort to address a problem: the lack of daily coverage, investigative stories and analysis of organized crime in the Americas. …
InSight Crime – Ten Years of Investigating Organized Crime in the Americas
In early 2009, Steven Dudley was in Medellín, Colombia. His assignment: speak to a jailed paramilitary leader in the Itagui prison, just south of the city. Following his interview inside…
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