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.
Investigation Chapters
GameChangers 2022: ‘Pink Cocaine,’ Cross-Border Battles, and the Frustrating Fight Against Mafia States
InSight Crime’s GameChangers 2022 looks back at the most consequential criminal stories across Latin America this year.
GameChangers 2022: How the Chapitos Became Hyper-Capitalist Narcos
The Chapitos are winning the internal war for the Sinaloa Cartel and doing it in a different way than their father ever considered.
GameChangers 2022: El Salvador’s Gang Crackdown Has Steep Human Rights Cost
El Salvador’s ruthless gang crackdown has led to mass incarceration and human rights abuses. But will it be replicated elsewhere?
GameChangers 2022: Maduro Seeks to Be Venezuela’s Criminal Kingmaker
After a tough few years for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, 2022 was spent reinforcing his power in the political and criminal realms.
GameChangers 2022: Could ‘Total Peace’ Lead to Disarmament of Colombia’s Armed Groups?
Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s Total Peace plan faces a very tough road ahead. Can over 20 criminal groups really all commit to peace?
GameChangers 2022: Drug Bonanza Amid Prohibition Challenges in 2023
The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof.
