GameChangers 2022

GAMECHANGERS / 22 DEC 2022


To explore and reveal the most important criminal trends of the past year, InSight Crime presents its six-part Criminal GameChangers series, with specific chapters dedicated to the rising influence of the Chapitos in Mexico; the impact of El Salvador’s savage, if popular, crackdown; the bold roll of the dice made by Colombia’s new president; and the consolidation of power in the hands of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.

Chapter 1

GameChangers 2022: ‘Pink Cocaine,’ Cross-Border Battles, and the Frustrating Fight Against Mafia States

GAMECHANGERS / 22 DEC 2022

InSight Crime's GameChangers 2022 looks back at the most consequential criminal stories across Latin America this year.

Chapter 2

GameChangers 2022: How the Chapitos Became Hyper-Capitalist Narcos

CHAPITOS / 23 DEC 2022

The Chapitos are winning the internal war for the Sinaloa Cartel and doing it in a different way than their father ever considered.

Chapter 3

GameChangers 2022: El Salvador's Gang Crackdown Has Steep Human Rights Cost

BARRIO 18 / 26 DEC 2022

El Salvador's ruthless gang crackdown has led to mass incarceration and human rights abuses. But will it be replicated elsewhere?…

Chapter 4

GameChangers 2022: Maduro Seeks to Be Venezuela’s Criminal Kingmaker

GAMECHANGERS / 27 DEC 2022

After a tough few years for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, 2022 was spent reinforcing his power in the political and criminal realms.

Chapter 5

GameChangers 2022: Could 'Total Peace' Lead to Disarmament of Colombia's Armed Groups?

COLOMBIA / 28 DEC 2022

Colombian President Gustavo Petro's Total Peace plan faces a very tough road ahead. Can over 20 criminal groups really all commit to peace?…

Chapter 6

GameChangers 2022: Drug Bonanza Amid Prohibition Challenges in 2023

GAMECHANGERS / 29 DEC 2022

The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof.

Related Content

BOLIVIA / 11 JAN 2017

Latin America saw a boom in illegal mining in 2016, as organized crime recognized the potential of dirty gold.

GAMECHANGERS / 13 JAN 2017

The drug world in the Americas is undergoing seismic shifts with changing patterns of drug production and consumption that are…

BRAZIL / 3 JAN 2019

Welcome to InSight Crime’s Criminal GameChangers 2018, where we highlight the year's biggest crime trends in the Americas.

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception

27 MAY 2023

Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Paraguay Election Coverage Draws Attention 

5 MAY 2023

InSight Crime looked at the various anti-organized crime policies proposed by the candidates in Paraguay’s presidential election, which was won on April 30 by Santiago Peña. Our pre-election coverage was cited…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Cited in OAS, CARICOM Reports

28 APR 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s work was cited nine times in a new report by the Organization of American States (OAS) titled “The Impact of Organized Crime on Women,…

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