To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. Until his life grew increasingly violent.

The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras
To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. Until his life grew increasingly violent.
CJNG Control of Illegal Mining in Michoacán, Mexico, Claiming Indigenous Lives
With cartels like the CJNG muscling in on illegal mining in Michoacán, Mexico, Indigenous community members continue to suffer.
Otoniel Pleads Guilty: Farewell to Colombia's Last Kingpin
Otoniel, the fallen head of the Urabeños crime syndicate, has pleaded guilty in New York. His trial will mark the end of an era.
Ecuador's Navy Grappling With Mounting Evidence of Criminal Collusion
Corrupt Navy troops in Ecuador can be highly useful for drug traffickers, either to protect cocaine shipments or to simply let them pass.
Caribbean Nations Call for US Gun Crackdown as Murder Rates Soar
As American-made guns continue to flood the Caribbean, heads of state are demanding that the US do more to stem the flow of weapons.
Jamaica Seizing Ever-Larger Cocaine Shipments from Colombia
A string of large cocaine seizures in Jamaica suggests the island is becoming a central hub for trafficking to the United States and Europe.
Nature Under Threat in Ecuador as Gold Miners Target National Park
Podocarpus Natural Park in southern Ecuador is only the most recent one to be threatened by encroaching gold miners.
Chile's Copper Industry Under Siege as Robbers Attack Ports and Trains
Chile's lucrative copper industry is beleaguered by daring attacks on trains carrying tons of copper through the desert.
Venezuela's Police Reform Unlikely to Halt Corrupt Ties to Organized Crime
A long-touted police reform in Venezuela would likely have a limited impact on rampant corruption in the ranks.
Trial of Mexico's Former Top Cop May Shine Light on Weaknesses of US Drug War
The trial of Mexico’s former top public security official will reveal shortcomings in the fight against organized crime.
Reports of Brazil's PCC Taking Over Portugal Cocaine Trade Remain Unfounded
Record seizures of cocaine in Portugal have raised fears Brazil's PCC may be getting increasingly involved.
Featured Reporting and Analysis
In response to changes in the international marijuana trade, Mexico-based drug trafficking groups have shifted their strategies.
The shift from plant-based to synthetic drugs has upended the relationship between small farmers and crime groups in Mexico’s Golden Triangle.
Local drug sales in Sinaloa’s capital city are controlled by one of the most notorious and powerful organized crime families in Mexico.
El Salvador's ruthless gang crackdown has led to mass incarceration and human rights abuses. But will it be replicated elsewhere?…
Colombian President Gustavo Petro's Total Peace plan faces a very tough road ahead. Can over 20 criminal groups really all commit to peace?…
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Europe Coverage Makes a Splash
Last week, InSight Crime published an analysis of the role of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport as an arrival hub for cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico. The article was picked up by…
World Looks to InSight Crime for Mexico Expertise
Our coverage of the arrest of Chapitos’ co-founder Ovidio Guzmán López in Mexico has received worldwide attention.In the UK, outlets including The Independent and BBC…
InSight Crime Shares Expertise with US State Department
Last week, InSight Crime Co-founder Steven Dudley took part in the International Anti-Corruption Conference organized by the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor and…
Immediate Response to US-Mexico Marijuana Investigation
InSight Crime’s investigation into how the legalization of marijuana in many US states has changed Mexico’s criminal dynamics made a splash this week appearing on the front page of…
‘Ndrangheta Investigation, Exclusive Interview With Suriname President Make Waves
Two weeks ago, InSight Crime published an investigation into how Italian mafia clan the ‘Ndrangheta built a cocaine trafficking network from South America to ‘Ndrangheta-controlled Italian ports. The investigation generated…