News Analysis

GameChangers 2021: Barbecue, Gangs and Political Power in Haiti

Jimmy Chérizier, alias "Barbecue," is a complicated individual. For some, he's a Robin-Hood figure. For others, he's a former police…

GameChangers 2021: How Organized Crime Devoured the Amazon Rainforest

There was record destruction of the Amazon in 2020, as the rainforest lost an area around the size of Belize,…

GameChangers 2021 – No End in Sight for Ecuador's Downward Spiral

Ecuador's descent into violence followed a common path: more cocaine led to more cash and more weapons for the gangs.

GameChangers 2021: How IUU Fishing Plundered Latin America's Oceans

A spree of illegal fishing occurred across Latin America this past year, much of it driven by competition for diminishing…

GameChangers 2021: COVID Chaos, Corruption, Deforestation and Synthetic Drugs

Welcome to InSight Crime’s Criminal  GameChangers 2021, where we highlight the most important trends in organized crime in the Americas over the course…

The Second Marquetalia’s Uncertain Future

The Segunda Marquetalia has seen its leadership decimated under bizarre circumstances, in the only place where the powerful Colombian dissident…

A Seat at the Table: What New Governors in Venezuela Mean for Organized Crime

November regional elections brought changes to many powerful offices in regions where criminal organizations wield significant political power, highlighting the…

Failed Kingpin Strategy at Heart of New US-Mexico Security Plans

The United States and Mexico have officially entered a new phase of their partnership to tackle transnational organized crime groups…

How to Smuggle Fried Rice into a Colombian Prison

A lucrative covert delivery business run by prison guards in Colombia has provided yet another example of the diverse range…

El Salvador's Gangs Send Message in Blood

Though El Salvador stands on track for another record low in homicides this year, the country was recently shaken by…

Sons of Former Panama President Plead Guilty in Odebrecht Investigation

Two sons of former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli have pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the United States related to…

Pins and Needles – How Credit Card Fraud Works in Latin America

A recent study of credit card cloning around the world revealed some startling disparities in the risks customers face across…