Kidnapping More than Tripled in Mexico
Kidnapping has more than tripled in the last five years, a study published by a Mexican congressional committee says. The studys findings, which appeared in numerous publications including…
Suspected Human Smugglers Found Dead
Mexican authorities found three dead bodies of men they said were members of the group that killed 72 migrants in Tamaulipas last month, La Cronica reported. One of…
McClatchy: Marijuana Booming
Mexicos marijuana business is booming, according to a McClatchy report in the Miami Herald. The story says that production is up 35 percent and 32,000 tons of the drug…
Mexican Military Kills 25 Suspected 'Zetas'
The Mexican military announced it had killed 25 suspected members of the Zetas criminal organization in the municipality of Treviño, Tamaulipas, while they rescued three kidnap victims from a farm,…
8 Security Forces Dead in Colombia
El Tiempo newspaper and Reuters report that eight members of the Colombian Armed Forces were killed in attacks in various parts of the country that the authorities blamed on…
Panama to Set Up Another Airbase
Panamanian authorities announced the construction of the fifth air station in the Veraguas province, along the Belén river, some 110 miles to the west of the capital city, the EFE…
More Kidnappings of Migrants
Authorities reported several more kidnappings of migrants in Mexico, including a case in Tijuana where 17 migrants continue missing, La Hora newspaper reports. Other cases stretched from Cuncún to…
Thousands Displaced in Medellin
In Colombia there are reports by El Tiempo that the urban violence in Medellin has displaced at least 1,870 people so far this year. Those are only the official numbers…
'Barbie' Says 'Chapo' to Blame for Violence
In a transcript of the police interrogation with Edgar Valdez Villarreal, alias "La Barbie," he says disputes over control of Juarez led to Mexico's current cartel war.
New Trade for Traffickers: Cattle Rustling
Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) like Mexico's La Familia, is entering the cattle rustling business, according to a lengthy article in El Universal. The organizations are using their superior…
Guatemalans Working with Zetas Sentenced
Six Guatemalan former military were sentenced to prison this week in Mexico for working with the Mexican criminal group the Zetas, Prensa Libre says.
Alleged 'Barbie' Associate Facing Charges in Costa Rica
In an illustration of the reach of the Beltrán Leyva Organization, an associate of Edgar Valdez Villareal, alias La Barbie, is facing trial in Costa Rica for drug trafficking, according…
About InSight Crime
Oceans Pillaged in Central America and the Caribbean
Last week, InSight Crime published the first installment of a nine-part investigation uncovering the hidden depths of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Latin America. The first installment covered Central America and…
Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua Becomes Truly Transnational
This week, InSight Crime published a deep dive into the total control that Venezuelan mega-gang, Tren de Aragua, has over the lives of those it smuggles between Venezuela and Chile…
Turkish Traffickers Delivering Latin American Cocaine to Persian Gulf
Last week, InSight Crime published the second half of an investigation piecing together the emerging role of Turkish cocaine traffickers in supplying Russia and the Persian Gulf, which are among…
Turkey as a Lynchpin in European Cocaine Pipeline
InSight Crime is extending its investigation into the cocaine pipeline to Europe, and tracking the growing connections between Latin American drug traffickers and European criminal organizations. This led us to…
Memo Fantasma Coverage Gets Worldwide Attention
Guillermo Acevedo, the former Colombian drug lord and paramilitary commander better known as Memo Fantasma, may soon be allowed to leave prison. Since first revealing the identity of Memo Fantasma…
Stay Informed with Weekly InSight
Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox.
SUBSCRIBE