Demobilized Fighters in Colombia’s Meta Targeted by Ex-Farc Mafia
The reintegration process for demobilized FARC fighters in Colombia’s Eastern Plains is under threat by ex-FARC Mafia groups looking to recruit and reassert power in territories historically under rebel control.
Worth Its Weight In Gold: New Unit Combats Mine Heists In Mexico
Six months after a sophisticated robbery where gunmen hijacked gold and silver bars being loaded onto a plane in Mexico, the government has stood up a specialized force to secure…
ELN Likely to Quickly Move Past Uriel’s Death in Colombia
The killing of ELN commander Uriel -- a well-known figure often seen in propaganda videos and press reports -- is a visible win for Colombia’s security forces, but it won’t…
Drug Dealers in Brazil Accused of Bankrolling Soccer Games
To sell and promote their product, drug dealers in Rio de Janeiro have organized cash-prize soccer matches — in an example of how even low-level criminals use Brazil’s soccer-mad culture…
Fake Turtle Eggs With GPS Trackers Seek Rollout Across Latin America
An experiment to track poached turtle eggs through the use of synthetic eggs equipped with GPS trackers in Costa Rica has offered a seductive new approach to fighting wildlife trafficking,…
Textiles Contraband Surges in Colombia as Convenient Money Laundering Tactic
Fashion continues to fuel money laundering in Colombia, generating millions in losses for the country's textile industry.
Guatemala Prosecutors Link Dirty Money to Former Minister
Prosecutors in Guatemala say they have linked a multimillion-dollar cash seizure to a high-ranking minister that served under former President Jimmy Morales, marking the first such official in the crosshairs…
Colombia’s Doubtful Progress Against Landmines
An army official has touted significant progress in clearing landmines in Colombia, but their expanded use by criminal groups has undercut demining efforts and has led to a sharp rise…
What Lies Behind Armed Robbery of Cancer Drugs in Mexico City?
A massive robbery of nearly 38,000 cancer drugs from a warehouse in Mexico City points to a growing sophistication in the country’s lucrative black market for medicine, with those involved…
Drug Tunnel Discovery Highlights Battle for Mexico City’s Largest Market
The recent discovery of drug tunnels confirms how Mexico City's largest market continues to attract criminal groups, competing to dominate a range of illicit businesses there.
‘Ovidio Fest’ – Culiacán Asked to Celebrate Release of El Chapo’s Son
It has been one year since authorities in Mexico released Sinaloa Cartel scion Ovidio Guzmán to stop his gunmen from laying waste to Culiacán, and now a block party --…
Brazil Cracking Down on Rising Illegal Diamond Mining
A recent operation in northern Brazil has put a spotlight on the country’s often overlooked illegal diamond trade, but authorities are only scratching the surface of the fast-growing criminal economy.
About InSight Crime
We Have Updated Our Website
Welcome to our new home page. We have revamped the site to create a better display and reader experience.
InSight Crime Events – Border Crime: The Northern Triangle and Tri-Border Area
Through several rounds of extensive field investigations, our researchers have analyzed and mapped out the main illicit economies and criminal groups present in 39 border departments spread across the six countries of study – the Northern Triangle trio of Guatemala, Honduras, and El…
InSight Crime’s ‘Memo Fantasma’ Investigation Wins Simón Bolívar National Journalism Prize
The staff at InSight Crime was awarded the prestigious Simón Bolívar national journalism prize in Colombia for its two-year investigation into the drug trafficker known as “Memo Fantasma,” which was…
InSight Crime – From Uncovering Organized Crime to Finding What Works
This project began 10 years ago as an effort to address a problem: the lack of daily coverage, investigative stories and analysis of organized crime in the Americas. …
InSight Crime – Ten Years of Investigating Organized Crime in the Americas
In early 2009, Steven Dudley was in Medellín, Colombia. His assignment: speak to a jailed paramilitary leader in the Itagui prison, just south of the city. Following his interview inside…
Stay Informed with InSight Weekly
Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox.
SUBSCRIBE