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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
/
OCTOBER 20, 2022
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 20, 2022
Former police officer Jimmy Chérizier, alias "Barbecue," is one of Haiti’s most prolific gang leader and head of the G9…
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.
Latest
How Peru is Tackling The Danger of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua
PERU
/
6 DEC 2022
Peru is taking steps to tackle the threat of Venezuelan mega-gang Tren de Aragua, and have recently captured 30 members of the gang.
True Cost of El Salvador’s War on Gangs Still Being Tallied
BARRIO 18
/
6 DEC 2022
The escalation of El Salvador's gang crackdown in the city of Soyapango has raised severe questions as to whether gang members are really still being rooted out.
Mass Graves in Venezuela Connected to Disappearances in Illegal Mining Hub
ILLEGAL MINING
/
5 DEC 2022
The discovery of mass graves in Bolívar, Venezuela, has revealed how criminals control illegal mining through violence and murder.
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