Costa Rica's Devil - Bloody Drug Feud Catches Authorities Off Guard
An unusually drawn-out feud between two rival gangs in northern Costa Rica has left over 150 people dead in five years, with authorities making a renewed push to end the…
Lots of Blame, Little Proof - Mexico's Cartels Behind Violence in Ecuador?
After yet another prison massacre, Ecuadorean authorities have doubled down on Mexico’s two biggest cartels being behind gang warfare in the South American nation by providing weapons and cash to…
Belize, the Gatekeeper for Contraband Tobacco Flowing into Mexico
While contraband cigarettes are a mainstay across Latin America, Belize has confirmed its status as a major port of entry for illegal tobacco into Mexico.
Why are Criminal Dynamics Constantly Changing in Tamaulipas, Mexico?
Cocaine, synthetic drugs, weapons, migrants, gasoline - this range of criminal economies has seen violence escalate in Mexico's northern state of Tamaulipas.
Panama's Gang Wars Growing Worryingly Vicious
Two attacks in recent days against gang members in Panama City have raised alarm bells that acts of shocking violence could become a regular occurrence in the country.
Who Has the Best Halloween Costume: Pablo Escobar or El Chapo?
The fascination with “narco-culture” has taken over the entertainment and media industries: documentaries, TV shows, movies, podcasts, even a dedicated page on this website.
What Does Otoniel's Arrest Really Mean for Colombia?
Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias “Otoniel,” was the most-wanted man in Colombia. His arrest was seen as so significant that a $5 million reward was on offer.
Haiti Kidnappings Target Foreigners in Evolution of Security Crisis
The abduction of 17 American and Canadian citizens in Haiti will bring a new level of attention to the country’s out-of-control kidnapping crisis but is unlikely to lead to new…
How Mexico's Cartels Use Video Games to Recruit Children
Mexican criminal groups have hit on a new way to recruit vulnerable young people into their ranks: reaching out to them while they play video games.
Cyclones, Scorpions and Old School Killers - The War for Tamaulipas
It was so simple once. The Gulf Cartel and its ancestors maintained control of Tamaulipas for eight decades.
Argentina's Monos May Thrive with Leader in Jail for Decades
The Monos, Argentina's leading criminal organization, know how to roll with the punches. And while their leader faces a total of 84 years in prison, the group's grip on the…
Ecuador’s Prison Slaughterhouse a Warning to Rest of Latin America
Ecuador is reeling from its worst-ever prison massacre in Guayaquil but the factors that led to this situation could well be replicated in other countries across the region.
About InSight Crime
Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted
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…
Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention
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…
InSight Crime on El País Podcast
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.
InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press
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,…
Escaping Barrio 18
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…
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