InSight Crime has developed its own methodology to rank Venezuela's organized crime groups. Here, we present the strongest.
NEWS
Venezuela Oil Minister Resigns Amid Political Fight With Criminal Ramifications
VENEZUELA
/
22 MAR 2023
The resignation of Venezuela's Oil Minister, Tareck El Aissami, after the arrest of a close ally may precede a sensational fall.
NEWS
Europe Narco-sub Heralds More to Come
COCAINE EUROPE
/
22 MAR 2023
Does the discovery of a second narco-submarine in Spain mean that more such vessels have been carrying drugs across the Atlantic?…
NEWS
Shining Path on the Offensive in Peru, Again
SHINING PATH
/
21 MAR 2023
A dozen people are dead in Peru since February amid escalating violence involving the Shining Path guerrilla group.
NEWS
What Mexico’s Posture on Fentanyl Says About US Relations
FENTANYL
/
21 MAR 2023
The complex history of the "drug war" in Mexico is hindering its collaboration with the US on the synthetic opioid, fentanyl.
NEWS
Matamoros: a Symptom of Mexico's Larger Illness
GULF CARTEL
/
20 MAR 2023
The state of Tamaulipas may not top Mexico's violence rankings, but the Gulf Cartel's fragmentation is raising concerns.
NEWS
5 Takeaways From UN Global Report on Cocaine 2023
COCAINE
/
17 MAR 2023
A report on the global cocaine trade has revealed how cocaine purity is rising in Europe and how Africa is struggling to stop a flood of the drug.
NEWS
The Northeast Cartel and Criminal Hegemony in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
US/MEXICO BORDER
/
16 MAR 2023
The Northeast Cartel has established almost complete dominance of criminal economies in Mexico's border city of Nuevo Laredo.
NEWS
Cocaine Prices in Australia, New Zealand: Worth the Trek for Traffickers
COCAINE
/
15 MAR 2023
Australia and New Zealand are the most expensive cocaine markets in the world. For the Sinaloa Cartel, it's worth the trek.
NEWS
Coca May Have Permanently Taken Root in Central America
COCA
/
15 MAR 2023
Coca cultivation remains concentrated in the Andes, but escalating seizures suggest it could eventually be successful elsewhere.
NEWS
New Strategies in Rosario, Argentina, as Monos Fight
ARGENTINA
/
14 MAR 2023
As the Monos fragment, Argentina is trying new strategies to reduce the violence in Rosario.
Europe Narco-sub Heralds More to Come
COCAINE
/
22 MAR 2023
Shining Path on the Offensive in Peru, Again
PERU
/
21 MAR 2023
Matamoros: a Symptom of Mexico's Larger Illness
GULF CARTEL
/
20 MAR 2023
5 Takeaways From UN Global Report on Cocaine 2023
BRAZIL
/
17 MAR 2023
Coca May Have Permanently Taken Root in Central America
COCA
/
15 MAR 2023
Featured Reporting and Analysis
The Northeast Cartel has established almost complete dominance of criminal economies in Mexico's border city of Nuevo Laredo.
FEATURED
/
16 MAR 2023
InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean.
ARGENTINA
/
8 FEB 2023
Social leaders in Putumayo, Colombia, hope coca crop substitution can bring opportunities to communities. But supporting it may mean death.
COCA
/
1 MAR 2023
Venezuelan security forces carry out violent invasions of neighborhoods controlled by gangs, but there is little evidence of their success.
EL KOKI
/
2 MAR 2023
InSight Crime reviews Latin America and the Caribbean's cocaine seizure date from 2022 to find out what it reveals about regional trafficking.
BOLIVIA
/
8 MAR 2023
Stay Informed with Weekly InSight
Our newsletter provides a weekly digest of the latest organized crime news, helping you to stay up-to-date on major events, trends and criminal dynamics from across the region.
Subscribe
Help Investigate Organized Crime in the Americas
We at InSight Crime investigate organized crime on the ground. What we do is dangerous and costly, and for that reason, we need resources. Support independent journalism.
InDepth
About InSight Crime
THE ORGANIZATION
Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted
3 MAR 2023
This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…
THE ORGANIZATION
Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention
24 FEB 2023
Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime on El País Podcast
10 FEB 2023
This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press
3 FEB 2023
This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…
THE ORGANIZATION
Escaping Barrio 18
27 JAN 2023
Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…