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Criminal Actors
Histories and profiles of organized crime groups, insurgencies, street gangs, vigilantes and the criminal actors that lead them.
Ex-FARC Mafia
COLOMBIA GROUPS
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6 MAR 2020
The ex-FARC Mafia are a series of criminal structures that emerged during the peace negotiations between the Colombian government and…
José Manuel Sierra Sabogal, alias 'Zarco Aldinever'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
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FEBRUARY 2, 2020
José Manuel Sierra Sabogal, alias "Zarco Aldinever," served with the 51st, 52nd, and 26th fronts, in the departments of Meta,…
José Vicente Lesmes, alias 'Walter Mendoza'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
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FEBRUARY 2, 2020
José Vicente Lesmes, alias "Walter Mendoza," played a historic role within the ranks of the now demobilized FARC, playing an…
Gulf Cartel
GULF CARTEL
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30 JAN 2020
The Gulf Cartel is one of the oldest and most powerful of Mexicos criminal groups but has lost territory…
Henry Castellanos Garzón, alias 'Romaña'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
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8 NOV 2019
Henry Castellanos Garzón, alias “Romaña,” was the commander of the 53rd Front of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia…
Leider Johani Noscue, alias 'Mayimbú'
COLOMBIA PERSONALITIES
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8 NOV 2019
Leider Noscue, known by his alias “Mayimbú,” is currently one of the highest-value military targets in the department of Cauca,…
Ex-FARC Mafia
EX-FARC MAFIA
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OCTOBER 27, 2019
Las disidencias de las FARC o ex-Farc Mafia son grupos de excombatientes de la antigua guerrilla que se opusieron o…
Monos
ARGENTINA GROUPS
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2021
The criminal group known as the Monos, led by members of the Cantero family, has been operating for more than…
Álex Saab
VENEZUELA PERSONALITIES
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OCTOBER 18, 2021
Álex Saab is a Colombian businessman known for making million dollar deals with the Venezuelan government involving prefabricated houses and…
Samark López Bello
CARTEL DE LOS SOLES
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JUNE 14, 2019
Samark López Bello is a Venezuelan businessman and currently a fugitive from American justice facing charges of laundering drug money.
Jarvis Chimenes Pavão, alias "The Drug Kingpin"
PARAGUAY
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MAY 23, 2019
Brazilian national Jarvis Chimenes Pavão rose to become one of South America’s most prominent drug traffickers and the successor of…
Tareck El Aissami
VENEZUELA PERSONALITIES
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JUNE 17, 2019
Tareck El Aissami is the Minister of Industries and National Production of Venezuela. He has held this position since June…
Latest
US Guns Flow into Haiti, Fuel Gang Violence
ARMS TRAFFICKING
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30 NOV 2021
A string of US citizens and residents accused of smuggling weapons into Haiti underscores how guns purchased in the United States are a source of illegal weapons in a country…
3 Security Takeaways from Xiomara Castro's Historic Win in Honduras
COVID AND CRIME
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30 NOV 2021
Leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro appears to have ridden a wave of outrage to become Honduras' next president, beating out her right-wing rival in the ruling party, which has come…
Costa Rica Sabotaging Own Efforts to Protect Vulnerable Sharks
COSTA RICA
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29 NOV 2021
A new report has suggested that recent progress made in Costa Rica to protect its abundant shark and turtle populations has been reversed due to recent commercial decisions. …
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