How Ecuador is Lowering its Murder Rate
In 2011, Ecuador was one of the most violent countries in Latin America; the homicide rate had risen to over 22 per 100,000. That year, the government set a goal…
Accused Texis Cartel Boss Claims Group ‘Doesn’t Exist’
Roberto El Burro Herrera, one of three alleged founders of the Texis Cartel, is being retried for the 2012 theft of a Toyota Yaris, in another indication that authorities in…
Police Theft of $1.3 Mn is Mark of Honduras Corruption
Honduras has announced the suspension of 21 elite police agents assigned to the US Embassy for their implication in the theft of $1.3 million during an operation against drug traffickers,…
Paraguay Traffickers Exploit Lucrative Chile Marijuana Market
Drug trafficking groups in Paraguay can earn almost 20 times more selling marijuana in Chile than on the domestic market, according to Paraguayan authorities, an indication of how price discrepancies…
What Paramilitary Leader’s Extradition Could Mean for FARC Peace
Colombia's Supreme Court has approved the extradition of ex-paramilitary leader Julian Bolivar, raising questions about the fate of other former paramilitaries who have completed their sentences and the FARC leaders currently…
Drug Trafficking Aircraft Thieves Face Little Action from Argentina
A new investigation has highlighted the growing theft of private airplanes by drug traffickers in Argentina, with authorities in the country apparently showing little signs of attempting to address the…
Guatemala Meth Labs Highlight Growing Production Role
Authorities in Guatemala have discovered two methamphetamine laboratories within the past month, pointing to the Central American country's increasing part in feeding the growing synthetic drug market in Latin America…
The Financial Pitfalls of Peace for Colombia’s ELN*
Authorities in Colombia have opened an investigation into massive extortion payments made by a multinational company to guerrilla groups the FARC and ELN, spotlighting a source of revenue the ELN…
Honduras Military Police Accused of Kidnapping
Four low-ranking military police officers in Honduras were arrested on kidnapping charges, prompting a swift response from the president who wants to enshrine the force into the Constitution.
El Salvador Stays Firm Against Gang Truce as Conflict Intensifies
In a clear sign that El Salvador has shelved another gang truce, government officials moved gang leaders into a maximum security prison, amidst more violence between police and gang members.
Report Underscores Depths of Press Censorship in LatAm
Reporters in Latin America are regularly targeted by threats, harassment, and murder, according to an annual report by Reporters Without Borders, raising questions about how press freedom, or a lack…
New Mexico Faces Up to Heroin Problem
Heroin supplied by Mexican drug traffickers is taking a toll on New Mexico, leading to high rates of drug overdose deaths and prompting the state to take some controversial approaches…
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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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