Venezuela Investigative Unit

Venezuela Kills Gang Leader Whose Political Connections Were 'Open Secret'

ELITES AND CRIME / 27 MAR 2023

The killing of Venezuelan criminal, alias "El Conejo," by authorities is being reported as a major coup. The reality is more complex.

Venezuela Oil Minister Resigns Amid Political Fight With Criminal Ramifications

ELITES AND CRIME / 22 MAR 2023

The resignation of Venezuela's Oil Minister, Tareck El Aissami, after the arrest of a close ally may precede a sensational fall.

Venezuela's Maduro Is Key to Colombia’s 'Total Peace'

COLOMBIA / 9 MAR 2023

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro will play a vital role in the success of Colombia's peace talks with the ELN. Is that a good thing?…

Brutal but Futile: Venezuela's Anti-Gang 'Mega-Operations'

EL KOKI / 2 MAR 2023

Venezuelan security forces carry out violent invasions of neighborhoods controlled by gangs, but there is little evidence of their success.

Venezuelan Migrants Remain Easy Prey for Organized Crime

ELN / 24 FEB 2023

A new report has highlighted that organized crime is profiting from the exploitation of millions of migrants from Venezuela.

Doubts Remain Over Venezuela’s Efforts to Stop Illegal Mining

ELN / 17 FEB 2023

Venezuela has acted against illegal miners. But with close ties between the state and these mining groups, are efforts genuine?…

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 for 2023

ELN / 16 FEB 2023

InSight Crime has developed its own methodology to rank Venezuela's organized crime groups. Here, we present the strongest.

Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias 'Niño Guerrero'

TREN DE ARAGUA / FEBRUARY 15, 2023

Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero," is the leader of Tren de Aragua, Venezuela's largest homegrown criminal group.

Yeico Masacre

VENEZUELA / FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Erick Alberto Parra Mendoza, alias “Yeico Masacre”, is the leader of one of the most violent gangs in Venezuela's state of Zulia.

Violence Against Women Regular Tactic for Venezuela Criminal Groups

GENDER AND CRIME / 6 FEB 2023

Femicides in Venezuela have become a common tactic for organized crime groups, targeting partners and relatives of rivals.

Venezuela's Police Reform Unlikely to Halt Corrupt Ties to Organized Crime

POLICE REFORM / 18 JAN 2023

A long-touted police reform in Venezuela would likely have a limited impact on rampant corruption in the ranks.

GameChangers 2022: Maduro Seeks to Be Venezuela’s Criminal Kingmaker

EX-FARC MAFIA / 27 DEC 2022

After a tough few years for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, 2022 was spent reinforcing his power in the political and criminal realms.

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

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…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

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…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

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.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

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,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

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…