The difficulty of sourcing finished fentanyl from China has Mexican groups acquire precursor chemicals to synthesize fentanyl themselves.
NEWS
Guatemala Elites Flex Muscle, Excluding Leading Presidential Contender
GUATEMALA
/
26 MAY 2023
Carlos Pineda, the leading candidate in Guatemala's presidential elections, has been removed from the race on a technicality.
NEWS
Brazil's PCC Complicates Fight Against Illegal Mining in Amazon
BRAZIL
/
26 MAY 2023
The PCC appears to be providing support to illegal miners in the Yanomami territory in Brazil's northern state of Roraima.
NEWS
How Common Experiences Help Mexican Gangs Find New Recruits
MEXICO
/
25 MAY 2023
A new study shows how gang recruiters in Mexico target young men who have been exposed to crime at a young age.
NEWS
Guatemala Ex-Colonel Says Military Helped CJNG Run Drugs
GUATEMALA
/
24 MAY 2023
Guatemala's military was corrupted by Mexico's CJNG, a former Guatemalan colonel has confirmed during a drug trafficking trial in the US.
NEWS
Paramilitary Commander Salvatore Mancuso Reveals AUC’s Connections in Colombia
AUC
/
23 MAY 2023
Salvatore Mancuso, a leader of Colombia's demobilized paramilitary group the AUC has offered insights into the group's crimes and influence.
NEWS
Mexico Drone Attacks Spike After CJNG, Familia Michoacana Alliance
LA FAMILIA MICHOACANA
/
22 MAY 2023
Drone attacks carried out by the Familia Michoacana forced hundreds of residents of towns in Guerrero, Mexico, to flee their homes.
NEWS
Colombia's Talks With ELN Stumbling, Again
COLOMBIA
/
19 MAY 2023
The ELN's talks with the government are not going smoothly. Continuing attacks and disagreements about ceasefires have kept Colombia's Total Peace on a knife-edge.
NEWS
Gulf Cartel Still ‘Public Enemy No. 1’ on US-Mexico Border: Homeland Security
GULF CARTEL
/
18 MAY 2023
Despite the CJNG moving into Mexico's northern state of Tamaulipas, the Gulf Cartel remains the foremost security threat along the US border.
NEWS
Is Mexico’s CJNG Pushing the Gulf Cartel From Tamaulipas?
CRIMINAL MIGRATION
/
17 MAY 2023
Some believe the CJNG’s invasion of Tamaulipas is all but a sure thing despite the Gulf Cartel’s historical roots, others are not convinced.
NEWS
Europe's Weakest Border? Smuggling Between Suriname and French Guiana
SURINAME
/
16 MAY 2023
Cocaine trafficked from Suriname into French Guiana and then on to France makes up some 30% of all cocaine consumed in the European nation.
SEE ALL NEWS
Featured Reporting and Analysis
Cocaine trafficked from Suriname into French Guiana and then on to France makes up some 30% of all cocaine consumed in the European nation.
COCAINE
/
16 MAY 2023
While fentanyl dominates headlines, Mexico has continued to produce colossal tons of methamphetamine which floods the United States.
FEATURED
/
8 MAY 2023
Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG depend on a network of brokers to buy precursor chemicals needed to make fentanyl and meth.
FENTANYL
/
9 MAY 2023
While cooks produce vast quantities of fentanyl in makeshift labs across Mexico, they are watched over by a small group of expert chemists.
FENTANYL
/
10 MAY 2023
Mexico's regulations concerning precursor chemicals is strong on paper, but rampant corruption means this is essentially meaningless.
DRUG POLICY
/
10 MAY 2023
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About InSight Crime
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report continues to be a reference in the region
19 MAY 2023
For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited
THE ORGANIZATION
/
12 MAY 2023
We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime’s Paraguay Election Coverage Draws Attention
5 MAY 2023
InSight Crime looked at the various anti-organized crime policies proposed by the candidates in Paraguay’s presidential election, which was won on April 30 by Santiago Peña. Our pre-election coverage was cited…
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime Cited in OAS, CARICOM Reports
28 APR 2023
This week, InSight Crime’s work was cited nine times in a new report by the Organization of American States (OAS) titled “The Impact of Organized Crime on Women,…
THE ORGANIZATION
InSight Crime Staff Cited as Experts by International Media
21 APR 2023
This week, InSight Crime deputy editor, Juan Diego Posada, was interviewed by the Associated Press about connections between the ex-FARC mafia and Brazilian criminal groups, and…