The Never-Ending List of Allegations Against Mexico’s Former Top Cop
The former head of Mexico’s federal police has been implicated in a money-laundering scheme that moved millions in suspected bribes from cartels. This is just the latest revelation showing the…
Colombia's EPL Bitterly Divided Between Political, Drug Trafficking Factions
A top EPL guerrilla commander in Colombia was killed on order of its high command for treason -- an act likely to further inflame infighting among the group’s increasingly desperate…
Sinaloa Hitman's Killing in Mexico Hints at Cartel Power Play
The execution of a top Sinaloa Cartel enforcer who was recently in US custody and fled to Mexico raises the question: Who benefited from his killing?…
US Pressure on Cuba to Extradite ELN Leaders Unlikely to Succeed
The US and Colombia's strategic alliance may seem stronger than ever after Washington blacklisted Cuba for refusing to extradite ELN leaders. But beyond this show of unity, this move's only…
International Money Laundering Schemes Latest to Fall Victim to Coronavirus
Dirty cash from the illicit drug trade is piling up in major US cities as the novel coronavirus hobbles yet another fundamental component of the operations of Latin America’s criminal…
Coronavirus May Be Providing Cover for Police Abuses in El Salvador
Police in El Salvador have come under fire after the body of an alleged gang member was found beaten and handcuffed despite family being told he died of coronavirus, underscoring…
Argentina Smugglers Turn to Cigarettes in Coronavirus Lockdown
Amid a shortage of cigarettes in Argentina after factory closings due to the coronavirus pandemic, the black market cigarette trade has surged -- an illegal economy with relatively low risk…
President of Honduras Congress Linked to Cachiros Drug Cartel: Report
A news investigation has linked the president of Honduras' congress to a major drug clan, exposing further connections between the country’s top government officials and its underworld.
Human Smugglers Could Benefit From Costa Rica-Nicaragua Silence
Costa Rica has enhanced border security during the coronavirus pandemic to crack down on human smuggling from Nicaragua, but its measures are undermined by a lack of communication between the…
Ex-FARC Mafia Fronts Left Reeling by Colombian Army in Antioquia
A targeted campaign by Colombian armed forces has left the 18th and 36th Fronts of the ex-FARC Mafia struggling to regroup in the northern department of Antioquia, a strategic drug…
Theft of Critical Medical Equipment Surges in Latin America
Thefts of tests, ventilators and personal protective equipment have shot up across Latin America amid the coronavirus pandemic, threatening lives and taxing governments that already face shortages of critical medical…
Coronavirus Driving Black Market for Medical Equipment in Cuba
The theft of thousands of surgical masks in Cuba reveals how the island’s active black market has adapted quickly to the coronavirus pandemic.
About InSight Crime
Who Are Memo Fantasma and Sergio Roberto de Carvalho?
Inside the criminal career of Memo Fantasma In March 2020, InSight Crime revealed the identity and whereabouts of Memo Fantasma, a paramilitary commander and drug trafficker living in…
Environmental and Academic Praise
InSight Crime’s six-part series on the plunder of the Peruvian Amazon continues to inform the debate on environmental security in the region. Our Environmental Crimes Project Manager, María Fernanda Ramírez,…
Series on Plunder of Peru’s Amazon Makes Headlines
Since launching on June 2, InSight Crime’s six-part series on environmental crime in Peru’s Amazon has been well-received. Detailing the shocking impunity enjoyed by those plundering the rainforest, the investigation…
Duarte’s Death Makes Waves
The announcement of the death of Gentil Duarte, one of the top dissident commanders of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), continues to reverberate in Venezuela and Colombia.
Cattle Trafficking Acclaim, Investigation into Peru’s Amazon
On May 18, InSight Crime launched its most recent investigation into cattle trafficking between Central America and Mexico. It showed precisely how beef, illicitly produced in Honduras, Guatemala…
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