Peace Dissipates as the Cocaine War Intensifies in Putumayo
The rapid expansion of FARC dissident groups has brought an end to a fleeting period of tranquility in Putumayo. Now, fear grows as cocaine fuels a drug war in the…
How MS13 Gang Members in El Salvador Control Their Partners from Prisons
Gang members' romantic partners are often also their victims, subordinate to the whims of their companions. MS13 members have been able to exploit these connections to dominate the lives of…
The Beast Behind the Red Light: MS13 and Prostitution
The notorious MS13 street gang boasts a diverse criminal portfolio – including prostitution. Through violence, abuse and intimidation, the gang has steadily gained control of this illicit economy on the…
United They Stand, Divided They Fall - Urabeños Losing Grip in Colombia
Before his arrest and extradition, Otoniel, both a former guerrilla fighter and ex-paramilitary, has an unparalleled reputation in the underworld. He was once the head of Colombia’s most powerful drug…
Colombia's Prison Corruption Exposed as Top Trafficker Strolls Out
A top Colombian drug trafficker walked out of a maximum-security prison in Bogotá without ever being challenged, exposing deep-seated corruption and threatening important criminal cases.
ELN Show of Force Confirms its Unmatched Criminal Presence in Colombia
After dozens of coordinated events to paralyze portions of Colombia, ELN militants underscored that the armed group remains the country's main criminal menace and threat to security.
Colombia Military Killing of Ex-FARC Commander 'Arturo' Rattles 10th Front
A veteran FARC dissident commander was killed in a Colombian military assault, leaving a power vacuum in the volatile Colombia-Venezuela border region.
China Producers Cashing in on Online Sale of Fentanyl Precursors
Chinese companies are turning to online sales to supply the fentanyl precursor market in Mexico. As a result, more criminal groups are producing fentanyl, stoking tensions with the cartels at…
Ex-FARC Mafia vs. ELN: a Fight Too Far at Colombia-Venezuela Border?
The 10th Front of the FARC dissidence isn’t letting up. After simultaneously heading off multiple enemies on Venezuelan soil, the group now appears to be taking on their greatest criminal…
Haiti Gangs Profit from Targeting Religious Groups
Religious groups are among the final institutions present in Haiti, delivering aid and support to an afflicted population. Unfortunately, that has made priests, nuns and missionaries prime targets for kidnapping…
Top Ex-FARC Commanders, El Paisa and Romaña, Confirmed Killed in Venezuela
Colombian media has reported that top ex-FARC commanders El Paisa and Romaña have been shot dead in Venezuela, making them the latest former FARC leaders killed in the neighboring country…
Families in Rosario, Argentina, Paint Homes to Avoid Attacks
Amid a spate of attacks on drug stash houses in the city of Rosario, Argentina, residents have taken to painting messages on the walls of their homes to try and…
About InSight Crime
Venezuela Drug Trafficking Investigation and InDepth Gender Coverage
On May 4, InSight Crime will be publishing The Cocaine Revolution in Venezuela, a groundbreaking investigation into how the Venezuelan government regulates the cocaine trade in the country. An accompanying event,…
InDepth Coverage of Juan Orlando Hernández
Ever since Juan Orlando Hernández was elected president of Honduras in 2014, InSight Crime has provided coverage of every twist and turn during his rollercoaster time in office, amid growing…
Venezuela's Cocaine Revolution
On May 4th, InSight Crime will publish a groundbreaking investigation on drug trafficking in Venezuela. A product of three years of field research across the country, the study uncovers cocaine production in…
Widespread Coverage of InSight Crime MS13 Investigation
In a joint investigation with La Prensa Gráfica, InSight Crime recently revealed that four of the MS13’s foremost leaders had been quietly released from…
Informing US State Department and European Union
InSight Crime Co-director McDermott briefed the US State Department and other international players on the presence of Colombian guerrillas in Venezuela and the implication this has for both nations. McDermott…
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