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Criminal Actors
Histories and profiles of organized crime groups, insurgencies, street gangs, vigilantes and the criminal actors that lead them.
Ismael Zambada García, alias 'El Mayo'
EL MAYO
/
MAY 5, 2021
Ismael Zambada Garcia, alias "El Mayo," is battlng the Chapitos for control of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Hector Beltran Leyva, alias 'El H'
BELTRAN LEYVA ORG
/
2016-11-17
Hector Beltran Leyva, alias "El H," headed the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), once among Mexico’s most feared cartels.
Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, alias 'Gabino'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
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MAY 19, 2020
Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, alias "Gabino," was a peasant recruit who rose to become the commander in chief and political leader…
Fernando Sanchez Arellano, alias 'El Ingeniero'
EL INGENIERO (TIJUANA)
/
2016-10-20 20:29:31
Fernando Sanchez Arellano, alias "El Ingeniero," was the head of the Tijuana Cartel until his capture in June 2014.
Erickson Vargas Cardenas, alias 'Sebastian' (Oficina)
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
/
2016-11-07 22:12:46
Erickson Vargas Cardenas, alias "Sebastian," is a former hitman turned leader of the feared Oficina de Envigado organization that operates…
Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias 'Tony Tormenta'
GULF CARTEL
/
2016-11-17
Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias "Tony Tormenta," ran finance and logistics for the Gulf Cartel, before his death in 2010.
Alejandro Flores Cacho
ALEJANDRO FLORES CACHO
/
2016-11-17
Little is know about Alejandro Flores Cacho, a pilot who runs air operations for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
Heriberto Lazcano, alias 'Z3'
MEXICO PERSONALITIES
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2016-10-20
Heriberto Lazcano, alias "Z3," was a Mexican special forces commander before headed the Zetas’ drug trafficking operations.
Daniel Barrera Barrera, alias 'El Loco'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
/
MAY 5, 2020
Daniel Barrera Barrera, alias "El Loco," was the closest thing Colombia has to a modern Pablo Escobar. Until his capture…
Miguel Angel Treviño, alias 'Z40'
MEXICO PERSONALITIES
/
JULY 17, 2021
Miguel Angel Treviño, alias "Z40," led the feared Zetas in Mexico before his capture in 2013.
Diego Perez Henao, alias 'Diego Rastrojo'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
/
2016-11-07 22:02:10
Diego Perez Henao, alias "Diego Rastrojo," was the military head of the Rastrojos, a criminal syndicate whose…
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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