Caparrapos Thriving in Colombia Due to Alliances With ELN, Ex-FARC Mafia
Having become one of the more visible criminal actors in Colombia due to their war with the Urabeños, the Caparrapos have been heavily targeted by authorities in 2019 so far.
Argentina’s Castedo Clan Continues to Survive Despite Top Arrests
Authorities in Bolivia have arrested a major player in the Castedo Clan, one of the most powerful drug trafficking clans in northern Argentina, but it is unlikely this will cripple…
Hezbollah’s Backing of Maduro May Shine Light on Links With Venezuela
Hezbollah’s explicit support for Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro could be the first step in confirming links between the South American nation’s government, the controversial organization and organized crime…
Growing Extortion Spurs Wave of Deadly Bus Attacks in Guatemala
Though violence has decreased in Guatemala, recent deadly attacks against buses show that public transport remains under siege by gangs, which have increased their extortion demands as smaller groups get…
Human Trafficking Conviction Rates on the Rise in Latin America
Although human trafficking continues to surge on the continent, improved legislation and the investment in social platforms are leading to higher human trafficking conviction rates in parts of Latin America.
Ecuador Warned of Potential Cross-Border Attack by ELN
Ecuadorean security forces are on high alert after receiving reports Colombia’s ELN guerrillas are planning a cross-border attack, highlighting what has until now been a major blind spot in Ecuador’s…
Colombia Cocaine Boom Likely Behind Rising European Port Seizures
Cocaine seizures at two of Europe’s biggest and busiest ports jumped by more than a quarter over the last year, underscoring the impact that the increase in global cocaine production…
ELN Car Bomb in Bogotá Takes Fight to Colombia’s Cities
By claiming responsibility for the car bomb attack that took place on January 17 in Bogotá, the ELN guerrilla group not only ensured the end of the peace talks with…
Criminal GameChangers 2018: The Full Report
With InSight Crime’s Criminal GameChangers 2018, we highlighted the most important trends in organized crime in the Americas over the course of last year. From a rise in illicit drug…
Political Mafias Helped Empower Gangs, says El Salvador Security Expert
The homicide rate in El Salvador has spiked after authorities in the Central American nation saw a substantial reduction in homicides in 2018, raising important questions about the role of…
Venezuela Soldiers Mutiny, Lambast Corrupt Military Leadership
An uprising of soldiers against the government of Nicolás Maduro has raised questions about corruption inside the armed forces and links between the military’s top commanders and organized crime.
Cartels Reopen Old Migrant Routes Through Arizona, New Mexico
Border Patrol agents have found several large Central American migrant groups crossing the US-Mexico border along remote stretches of desert -- a smuggling tactic that requires the buy-in of larger…
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Strategic Communications Manager Job Description
InSight Crime is looking for a full-time strategic communications manager. This person needs to be able to work in a fast-paced world of daily news, high-profile investigations, national and international…
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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. …
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