Why the ELN is Attacking One Specific Town Along Venezuela's Orinoco River
A move by the ELN to expand its control along the banks of the Orinoco River in Venezuela appears to be part of a broader strategy to control criminal economies…
Are Arrests of Venezuela Officials Simply For Show?
Venezuela’s government has unleashed a new campaign targeting municipal and state officials, police commanders and prosecutors allegedly involved in extortion and drug trafficking, yet its scope raises questions in a…
The Smuggler's Dilemma - Black Market Oil from Venezuela or Colombia
Venezuela’s oil industry is beginning to make a muted recovery and the country’s black markets are reacting fast, with domestic fuel already starting to compete with smuggled Colombian imports. …
How Criminals Take Advantage of Venezuela's Food Aid System
Scammers in Venezuela are selling desperate people non-existent government food aid packages – in the latest episode of the handout program being used to commit fraud.
Why did Venezuela's Peace Zones Backfire So Badly?
Venezuela’s Peace Zones were arguably some of the strongest evidence showcasing the odd, fluctuating relationship between organized crime and the government.
A Seat at the Table: What New Governors in Venezuela Mean for Organized Crime
November regional elections brought changes to many powerful offices in regions where criminal organizations wield significant political power, highlighting the significance of localized criminal dynamics and the consolidated grip of…
In Contested Zulia and Táchira, Violence Mars Venezuelan Elections
Under the view of international observers, elections in Venezuela this weekend showed low levels of interference by armed groups or organized crime.
‘The Rebel of the South’: Rise of the R Organization
At around 11 p.m. on April 6, 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Solís was returning to the military base he commanded near the town of Tumeremo in the eastern Venezuela state…
Metal Hands and Rubber Feet: Colombian Guerrillas and Venezuelan Gold
rmed men ambushed a group of gold miners near the Corre Gente mine in the municipality of Sifontes, near to Venezuela’s border with Guyana.
The Governors, the Gang and the War for Bolívar's Gold
On November 5, 2019, threatening pamphlets appeared on the streets of El Callao, a mining town in Venezuela's eastern state of Bolívar.
El Koki or Wilexis – Who Runs Caracas’ Most Powerful Drug Gang?
Unsurprisingly, Caracas consumes more drugs than anywhere else in the country. And despite a catastrophic economic crisis, a handful of gangs continue to make strong profits from microtrafficking in the…
Tren de Aragua, Venezuela's Most Dangerous Gang, Spotted in Chile
Authorities in Chile are on high alert due to reports that a Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua is involved in migrant smuggling in the country, further evidence of…
About InSight Crime
Venezuela's Cocaine Revolution Met With Uproar
On May 4, InSight Crime launched its latest investigation, Venezuela’s Cocaine Revolution¸ accompanied by a virtual panel on its findings. The takeaways from this three-year effort, including the fact that Venezuela…
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…
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