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Criminal Actors
Histories and profiles of organized crime groups, insurgencies, street gangs, vigilantes and the criminal actors that lead them.
Misiones, Argentina
GEOGRAPHIC PROFILES
/
15 MAR 2021
Misiones is the main entry point for marijuana smuggled from Paraguay into Argentina across the Paraná River and one of…
Chaco, Argentina
GEOGRAPHIC PROFILES
/
15 MAR 2021
Chaco is a transit corridor for illicit products. Most drugs or contraband smuggled into Argentina in the Formosa province crosses Chaco…
Paraná, Brazil
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 MAR 2021
Paraná is a hub for drug trafficking. Vast quantities of cocaine and marijuana enter the state from Paraguay, via the…
Santa Catarina, Brazil
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 MAR 2021
Santa Catarina is a launchpad for cocaine destined for Europe and a transit point for marijuana and contraband headed to…
Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 MAR 2021
Mato Grosso do Sul is among Brazil’s most strategic states for transnational crime.
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
COCAINE
/
4 MAR 2021
Strategically located between Argentina and Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul is a hub for contraband and drug smuggling.
Brazil Profile
BRAZIL
/
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, has seen some important security advances in recent years, taking dozens of communities in Rio…
Guatemala Profile
GUATEMALA
/
28 FEB 2021
Guatemala's criminal organizations are among the most sophisticated and dangerous in Central America. Some of them have been in operation…
Alto Paraguay, Paraguay
GEOGRAPHIC PROFILES
/
25 FEB 2021
One of Paraguay’s most sparsely populated but most homicidal departments, Alto Paraguay serves as an important cocaine transit corridor.
Concepción, Paraguay
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
25 FEB 2021
In Concepción, powerful drug traffickers have penetrated local politics. With corruption rife, some municipalities have started to resemble criminal enclaves.
Itapúa, Paraguay
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
25 FEB 2021
Itapúa is a minor marijuana producer but an important transit corridor for cannabis smuggled into Argentina. Some areas of the…
Latest
Desperation in the Desert: The Industrialization of Migrant Smuggling on the US-Mexico Border
FEATURED
/
5 OCT 2022
Along the US-Mexico border, a booming migrant smuggling industry is closely monitored by organized crime groups.
Military Arsenals Provide Convenient Source of Weapons for Latin American Gangs
ARMS TRAFFICKING
/
4 OCT 2022
Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands.
High-Profile Venezuela-US Prisoner Swap Comes at Opportune Moment
ELITES AND CRIME
/
4 OCT 2022
A high-profile prisoner swap raises hopes of improving US-Venezuela relations and abilities to tackle organized crime.
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