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
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…
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…
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