Bala na Cara
BRAZIL
/
27 JUL 2021
Bala na Cara (BNC) is a prominent criminal group in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazil
BRAZIL
Paraná, Brazil
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 MAR 2021
Paraná is a hub for drug trafficking. Vast quantities of cocaine and marijuana enter the state from Paraguay, via the Paraná River, and from Foz do Iguaçu.
Santa Catarina, Brazil
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 MAR 2021
Santa Catarina is a launchpad for cocaine destined for Europe and a transit point for marijuana and contraband headed to the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay.
Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 MAR 2021
Mato Grosso do Sul is among Brazil’s most strategic states for transnational crime.
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
COCAINE
/
4 MAR 2021
Strategically located between Argentina and Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul is a hub for contraband and drug smuggling.
Brazil Profile
BRAZIL
/
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, has seen some important security advances in recent years, taking dozens of communities in Rio de Janeiro from criminal gangs through its innovative UPP security…
Escritório do Crime
BRAZIL GROUPS
/
AUGUST 13, 2021
Escritório do Crime is one of the largest and most powerful militia groups in Brazil’s second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro.
Marcelo Fernando Pinheiro Veiga, alias 'Piloto'
BRAZIL PERSONALITIES
/
APRIL 13, 2020
Marcelo “Piloto” Pinheiro was considered one of the Brazilian government’s most sought-after drug traffickers until 2017.
Gilberto Aparecido Dos Santos, alias 'Fuminho'
BRAZIL PERSONALITIES
/
APRIL 13, 2020
Gilberto Aparecido Dos Santos, alias “Fuminho,” is one of the leaders of Brazil’s largest criminal gang, the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC).
Family of the North - FDN
BRAZIL
/
MARCH 5, 2020
Family of the North (Familia do Norte - FDN) is Brazil’s third-largest criminal group, with a strong presence in the north of the country.
Marcos Willians Herbas Camacho, alias ‘Marcola’
BRAZIL
/
JULY 18, 2022
Marcos Willians Herbas Camacho, alias "Marcola," has been the top leader of the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital - PCC) since 2002.
Amigos dos Amigos
AMIGOS DOS AMIGOS
/
MARCH 30, 2018
Amigos dos Amigos is a criminal group based in Brazil’s second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro.
Pure Third Command
BRAZIL
/
26 APRIL, 2018
The Pure Third Command (Terceiro Comando Puro) is one of the most powerful criminal groups in Brazil’s second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro.
About InSight Crime
THE ORGANIZATION
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InSight Crime on El País Podcast
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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.
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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,…
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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…
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