Welcome to InSight Crime’s Criminal GameChangers 2018, where we highlight the most important trends in organized crime in the Americas over the course of the year. From a rise in illicit drug availability and resurgence of monolithic criminal groups to the weakening of anti-corruption efforts and a swell in militarized responses to crime, 2018 was a year in which political issues were still often framed as left or right, but the only ideology that mattered was organized crime.
Explore the rest of our annual GameChangers series here.
Series Chapters
GameChangers 2018: The Year Crime Became an Ideology
Welcome to InSight Crime’s Criminal GameChangers 2018, where we highlight the year’s biggest crime trends in the Americas.
GameChangers 2018: Political Shifts in Colombia, Mexico Cloud OutlookÂ
Elections in Latin America’s two most important countries for the drug trade have brought significant change in 2018.
GameChangers 2018: Threatened by Inquiries, Central American Elites Strike Back
As 2018 came to a close, two things became clear: the once impenetrable armor against corruption that the United States and other international donors provided in the region has weakened; and the political and economic elites of Central America are…
GameChangers 2018: Venezuelan Migration a New Gold Mine for Organized Crime
Turbulence reigned in 2018, but there was one constant: the flow of Venezuelans fleeing their country. The unceasing migration has left thousands of people homeless, penniless and ripe for exploitation by organized crime groups.
GameChangers 2018: As Opioids and Cocaine Boom, the Americas Wilt
While criminal organizations have widened their portfolios dramatically in recent years, drug trafficking remains their most important earner.
GameChangers 2018: The Criminal ‘Winners’ in Latin America
Which criminal structures have gained the most strength in Latin America in 2018? Three groups, all based in different nations, have engaged in aggressive expansion, both territorial and economic, and are set to dominate the region’s criminal landscape.
GameChangers 2018: 5 Reasons LatAm Organized Crime Will Strengthen in 2019
It is hard to be optimistic for 2019. The current trends all point to a strengthening of organized crime throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, as the criminals adapt far more quickly than authorities to changing conditions and take advantage…
