Smaller Mexico Cities Now Most Violent in the World
Mexico has once again dominated a list of the most violent cities in the world but smaller towns have now shot up the rankings, reflecting new hotspots where criminal groups…
Closing Prisons Only Postpones Real Issues in Mexico
The shuttering of a state prison in Mexico is an unconventional response by officials trying to combat poor living conditions for inmates but this will do little to address fundamental…
Deadly Ambush of 13 Police Meets Little Government Response in Mexico
A bloody ambush on a police unit in the state of Mexico, in which thirteen officials were shot dead, is exposing the Mexican government’s failure to control escalating violence outside…
Color-coded Bracelets for Migrants: Separating Poor from Poorer at US-Mexico Border
A recent report from the US-Mexico border revealed that human smuggling organizations have begun giving special bracelets to undocumented migrants, a practice that seems to illustrate the different tiers that…
In Brazil, Court’s Decision Illustrates Corruption Probe Overreach
After Brazil's Supreme Court canceled the conviction of its former president, the country must now contend with the fallout.
Cartel Violence in Central Mexico Taking Hold in Jerez
Violence in the town of Jerez, in Mexico's central state of Zacatecas, has surged in 2021, as criminal groups fight for control of key drug transit and production zones.
Latin America’s Bustling Trade in Seahorses to China
A new investigation has identified Mexico as a major contributor to a global seahorse trafficking network centered around China but it seems likely that this trade is also affecting other…
Migrants Killed in Mexico Took Treacherous Path
Nineteen people shot and burned in a Mexico border state near Texas is a macabre reminder that migrants being smuggled to the United States are targets of cartel violence.
Bolivia Rivers Become Increasingly Popular Drug Trafficking Routes
Drug trafficking routes are starting to appear along rivers and canals in Bolivia, threatening to complicate efforts to stop the flow of cocaine to international markets.
Trump Leaves Biden Corruption Problem at Mexico Border Wall
Former President Donald Trump’s border wall project has developed a spotty record of attracting organized crime to its many construction sites, leaving the incoming Biden administration with a financial, legal…
Mexico’s Fentanyl Crisis Reached New Heights in 2020
Trafficking of the deadly opioid fentanyl skyrocketed in 2020 throughout Mexico, solidifying the synthetic drug's status as a top criminal economy and the country's role as an international trafficking transit…
Key Report Urges Ambitious Revision of US Anti-Drug Policy
Congress has released a sweeping report on drug policy in the Americas, laying out a long list of recommendations for curbing drug trafficking and addressing the public health issues created…
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InSight Crime Events – Border Crime: The Northern Triangle and Tri-Border Area
Through several rounds of extensive field investigations, our researchers have analyzed and mapped out the main illicit economies and criminal groups present in 39 border departments spread across the six countries of study – the Northern Triangle trio of Guatemala, Honduras, and El…
InSight Crime’s ‘Memo Fantasma’ Investigation Wins Simón Bolívar National Journalism Prize
The staff at InSight Crime was awarded the prestigious Simón Bolívar national journalism prize in Colombia for its two-year investigation into the drug trafficker known as “Memo Fantasma,” which was…
InSight Crime – From Uncovering Organized Crime to Finding What Works
This project began 10 years ago as an effort to address a problem: the lack of daily coverage, investigative stories and analysis of organized crime in the Americas. …
InSight Crime – Ten Years of Investigating Organized Crime in the Americas
In early 2009, Steven Dudley was in Medellín, Colombia. His assignment: speak to a jailed paramilitary leader in the Itagui prison, just south of the city. Following his interview inside…
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