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Criminal Actors
Histories and profiles of organized crime groups, insurgencies, street gangs, vigilantes and the criminal actors that lead them.
Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, alias 'The Chess Player'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
/
JUNE 15, 2022
Colombian kingpin, Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, alias “The Chess Player,” was one of the leaders of the Cali Cartel.
Jobanis de Jesús Ávila Villadiego, alias ‘Chiquito Malo’
COLOMBIA
/
JUNE 17, 2022
Jobanis de Jesús Ávila Villadiego, alias "Chiquito Malo," is the current commander of the Urabeños.
Juan Orlando Hernández
HONDURAS
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20 APR 2022
Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduras’ former president, is facing trial on US drug charges after allegations that he received bribes to…
400 Mawozo
CARIBBEAN
/
MARCH 23, 2022
The 400 Mawozo (400 Lame Men) gang is currently the largest active criminal group in Haiti. Led by Joseph Wilson,…
10th Front - Ex-FARC Mafia
COLOMBIA GROUPS
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18 JAN 2022
The 10th Front, also known as the Martín Villa Front, is one of the most active elements of the ex-FARC…
The Capture of Otoniel
27 OCT 2021
Otoniel was the most wanted drug trafficker in Colombia, with a $5 million bounty on his head. InSight Crime explores…
Ariel Máximo Cantero, alias 'Guille'
ARGENTINA
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OCTOBER 1, 2021
Ariel Máximo Cantero, alias “Guille,” is the leader of Argentina's Monos crime family. While he is facing decades behind bars,…
Pablo Escobar
AUC
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30 AUG 2021
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was the pioneer in industrial-scale cocaine trafficking.
Jimmy Chérizier, alias 'Barbecue'
CARIBBEAN
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OCTOBER 21, 2021
Former police officer Jimmy Chérizier, alias "Barbecue," is one of Haiti’s most prolific gang leaders.
Bala na Cara
BRAZIL
/
JULY 27, 2021
Bala na Cara (BNC) is a prominent criminal group in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Border Command
COLOMBIA
/
JUNE 11, 2022
Los Comandos de la Frontera, or the Border Command, formerly known as La Mafia, is a group made up of…
Latest
Human Trafficking Victims Grow as Mexico Government Strategy Falters
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
/
5 AUG 2022
Human trafficking appears on the rise in Mexico, with the government struggling to find a strategy forward.
How Colombia's Conflict Intensified Violence Against Women and the LGBTIQ+ Community
COLOMBIA
/
4 AUG 2022
Alejandra Miller of Colombia’s Truth Commission explained why women and LGBTIQ+ persons were disproportionately affected by the armed conflict.
Gang Killings of Bus Drivers Paralyzes Colombia’s Fourth City
COLOMBIA
/
4 AUG 2022
A local gang targeted bus drivers in Barranquilla, Colombia, to gain attention ahead of the country's change in government.
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