El Koki's Victory – An Urban Invasion in Caracas
El Coqui seemed to be comfortable. Caracas’ foremost gang boss had, for several years, dominated the sprawling neighborhood of Cota 905, a densely packed and poor part of western Caracas.
A Black Cap and A Photo - How John 40 Shook Up FARC Dissidents
A former FARC leader and veteran drug trafficker has sided with ex-commander Iván Márquez, a move that could prove crucial to the future of dissident FARC criminal groups in Colombia…
Mafia Boss Claims Venezuela-Turkey Cocaine Connection
A Turkish mafia boss has claimed cocaine is being trafficked directly from Venezuela to Turkey in a viral video, pointing to the use of a route relying on the support…
Death of Jesús Santrich Throws Wrench Into Conflict in Venezuela
The killing of a notorious Colombian dissident guerrilla leader on Venezuelan soil has the potential to destabilize underworld dynamics in both countries, fueling an already raging conflict along their shared…
The Unlikely Resistance of a Lone Mining Gang in Venezuela
The escalating violence between security forces and a gang that formerly enjoyed official protection in Venezuela's foremost mining region shows how the breakdown of criminal and political alliances can lead…
Venezuela’s Modeling Agencies Repeatedly Linked to Human Trafficking
As sex trafficking has soared in Venezuela, seemingly legitimate modeling agencies are repeatedly being linked to cases of human trafficking, trapping young women and forcing them into sexual servitude.
Carlos Luis Revete, alias 'El Koki'
Carlos Luis Revette, alias “El Koki,” is one of Venezuela’s most wanted criminals and leader of the “megabanda" that controls the Cota 905 district to the southwest of Caracas.
Bitcoin Cryptocurrency Adds to Venezuela Money Laundering Risk
Venezuela is increasingly turning to the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, raising questions about its possible use in laundering money and evading US sanctions, not unlike the way Venezuela already uses the gold…
Venezuela Kingpin's Arrest Leaves Power Vacuum on Caribbean Coast
Recent drug charges against a little-known but powerful Venezuelan businessman come as a surprise given that he allegedly operated with impunity for decades on the country's northern coast.
Venezuela Sends Mixed Messages to Colombian Insurgents
A recent Venezuelan military operation in the state of Apure has once again exposed the complex relationship between the Venezuelan government and Colombia's insurgent groups camped in the country's border…
Sexual Abuse Plagues Women’s Detention Facilities in Venezuela
The shooting death of a 19-year-old woman in a Venezuela police holding cell has revealed that women in the jail were being systematically forced to have sex with officers, underscoring…
Venezuela Oil Crisis May Set Limits on PDVSA Impunity
Venezuelan officials may have finally met a PDVSA corruption scandal they cannot allow to go unpunished, hinting at just how dire the country’s oil and gas shortage has become.
About InSight Crime
Gender and Investigative Techniques Focus of Workshops
On November 23-24, InSight Crime conducted a workshop called “How to Cover Organized Crime: Investigation Techniques and A Focus on Gender.” The session convened reporters and investigators from a dozen…
InSight Crime Names Two New Board Members
In recent weeks, InSight Crime added two new members to its board. Joy Olson is the former executive director of the Washington Office on Latin America…
Senate Commission in Paraguay Cites InSight Crime
InSight Crime’s reporting and investigations often reach the desks of diplomats, security officials and politicians. The latest example occurred in late October during a commission of Paraguay's Senate that tackled…
Backing Investigative Journalism Around the Globe
InSight Crime was a proud supporter of this year's Global Investigative Journalism Conference, which took place November 1 through November 5 and convened nearly 2,000 journalists…
Tracking Dirty Money and Tren de Aragua
InSight Crime was delighted to support investigative reporting in the Americas through a workshop with our friends at Connectas, a non-profit journalism initiative that facilitates collaboration…
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