Hashish: New Player in Brazil Drug Markets
In stopping a European sailboat, Brazilian authorities have made a record seizure of marijuana resin, also known as hashish, revealing both a new trans-Atlantic drug route and the ongoing diversification…
Mozambique Becoming Southern Africa's Cocaine Platform
Ongoing seizures of cocaine trafficked from Brazil to Mozambique continue to highlight the robust drug route between the two former Portuguese colonies, as well as a lesser-known transit region for…
Cocaine, Crack, Meth, MDMA - Europe Drugs Report Paints Grim Picture
A recent report on drug trafficking and consumption in Europe highlights the acceleration of existing trends and the emergence of new ones, both of which impact Latin America’s criminal landscape.
Why Mexico’s National Guard Remains Vastly Unqualified
Over 90 percent of active personnel in Mexico’s National Guard remain uncertified two years after the police body’s creation, marking the failure of a signature goal of Mexican President Andrés…
Chinese Fishing Fleet Still Baits Argentina
China’s distant-water fishing fleet is once again engaging in suspicious and potentially illegal fishing near Argentinean waters, demonstrating the limits of both regional and Chinese government attempts to rope in…
Libya, North Africa Emerge As Cocaine Transit Hubs
Within the span of a week, cocaine was discovered in two separate maritime cargo containers bound for Libya, a strong indication that both the north African country and broader region…
Middleman Linked Colombian Gangs with Israeli, Japanese Mafia
An Israeli national suspected of ties to Japanese and Israeli mafia groups has been accused of running drug trafficking, money laundering, and sex trafficking operations in Colombia, revealing the logistical…
Albanian Mafia Leaves Trail of Blood in Ecuador
The assassination of Albanian national Adriatik Tresa inside his luxury property in Ecuador has revealed details of his alleged criminal activities, painting a picture of violent Albanian drug emissaries operating…
Uruguay Cracking Down on Cattle Rustling from Brazil
A surge in cattle and horse rustling is plaguing ranchers along the Uruguay-Brazil border, but a new specialized unit dedicated to tackling the crime may be showing signs of success.
Mexico City’s Roaring Trade in Wildlife Trafficking
A series of unusual and contrasting seizures of rare fauna in the Mexico City area have raised important questions about the modus operandi of wildlife trafficking in and through Mexico’s…
GameChangers 2020: Tren de Aragua and the Exportation of Venezuelan Organized Crime
Venezuela has long been known as a strategic rearguard for Colombia guerrilla groups. Yet 2020 saw the acceleration of a newer dynamic: Venezuelan gangs now rival their Colombian counterparts in…
GameChangers 2020: The Resurgence of the Central American Cocaine Highway
A rush of drug plane traffic from South America, coupled with traffickers smuggling large cocaine shipments after coronavirus border restrictions eased, led to a surge in narcotics transiting Central America…
About InSight Crime
Venezuela El Dorado Investigation Makes Headlines
InSight Crime's investigation into the trafficking of illegal gold in Venezuela's Amazon region generated impact on both social media and in the press. Besides being republished and mentioned by several…
Gender and Investigative Techniques Focus of Workshops
On November 23-24, InSight Crime conducted a workshop called “How to Cover Organized Crime: Investigation Techniques and A Focus on Gender.” The session convened reporters and investigators from a dozen…
InSight Crime Names Two New Board Members
In recent weeks, InSight Crime added two new members to its board. Joy Olson is the former executive director of the Washington Office on Latin America…
Senate Commission in Paraguay Cites InSight Crime
InSight Crime’s reporting and investigations often reach the desks of diplomats, security officials and politicians. The latest example occurred in late October during a commission of Paraguay's Senate that tackled…
Backing Investigative Journalism Around the Globe
InSight Crime was a proud supporter of this year's Global Investigative Journalism Conference, which took place November 1 through November 5 and convened nearly 2,000 journalists…
Stay Informed with Weekly InSight
Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox.
SUBSCRIBE