All About Cartel de los Soles

VENEZUELA

Cartel of the Suns

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 14 JAN 2021

The “Cartel of the Suns” (Cartel de los Soles) is the term used to describe the shadowy groups inside Venezuela’s military that are involved in a wide range of criminal…

Venezuelan Money Laundering Schemes Continue To Thrive in US

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 13 JUL 2020

The seizure of a fleet of luxury cars bound for Venezuela in Florida has shown how officials and allies of President Nicolás Maduro are still seeking to sidestep US sanctions…

Venezuela President's Drug Trafficking Exploits Detailed in US Indictment

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 26 MAR 2020

US prosecutors have charged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his closest allies with drug trafficking and corruption, cementing the embattled nation's reputation as a mafia state.

Clandestine Airstrips, Drug Flights Becoming More Frequent Across Venezuela

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 12 MAR 2020

Clandestine airstrips found in Venezuela and suspected drug flights leaving the country soared in 2019, with different parts of the country being used as aerial connection points, but the total…

Report Recognizes Drug Trafficking Influence of Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 6 MAR 2020

For the first time, the International Narcotics Control Board has recognized the growing influence of the "Cartel of the Suns," the name for a criminal structure within the ranks of…

GameChangers 2019: As Venezuela Sinks, Maduro’s Criminal Ties Keep Him Afloat

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 18 JAN 2020

Venezuela remained mired in crisis throughout 2019, yet Nicolás Maduro actually consolidated his regime. How did he do it?…

Venezuela-FARC Drug Trafficking Alliance May Explain DEA Expulsion

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 20 SEP 2019

New evidence suggests that late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez allied with the FARC to “flood” the United States with cocaine, potentially explaining his expulsion of the DEA from the country.

The Criminal Ties of Maduro's New Military Chiefs in Venezuela

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 17 JUL 2019

President Nicolás Maduro has announced changes to Venezuela’s highest military positions, in a series of appointments that reward longstanding loyalty but also promote figures with records of criminal complicity and…

Samark López Bello

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / JUNE 14, 2019

Samark López Bello is a Venezuelan businessman and currently a fugitive from American justice facing charges of laundering drug money.

Venezuela Intelligence Chief Exposes Organized Crime Links in Maduro Govt

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 8 JUL 2019

For the second time in six months, a former head of Venezuela’s military intelligence service has made major revelations about the links between President Nicolás Maduro’s administration and organized crime.

Failed Venezuela Uprising Benefits Armed and Criminal Groups

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 8 MAY 2019

Venezuela's social conflict and violence may be even more complicated a week after the failed military uprising led by Juan Guaidó. This continued descent into state-sponsored anarchy has only favored…

US Piles on the Pressure Against Venezuela's El Aissami

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 14 MAR 2019

The United States has charged Tareck El Aissami, one of the most powerful men in Venezuela, and five of his collaborators for violating sanctions imposed in 2017 for alleged drug…

The Armed Groups Propping Up Venezuela’s Government

CARTEL DE LOS SOLES / 1 MAR 2019

Reports from Venezuela are shocking the world with images of “colectivos,” police and military using excessive force -- even opening fire -- on unarmed civilians attempting to bring humanitarian aid…

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Gender and Investigative Techniques Focus of Workshops

26 NOV 2021

On November 23-24, InSight Crime conducted a workshop called “How to Cover Organized Crime: Investigation Techniques and A Focus on Gender.” The session convened reporters and investigators from a dozen…

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InSight Crime Names Two New Board Members

19 NOV 2021

In recent weeks, InSight Crime added two new members to its board. Joy Olson is the former executive director of the Washington Office on Latin America…

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Senate Commission in Paraguay Cites InSight Crime

12 NOV 2021

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Backing Investigative Journalism Around the Globe

5 NOV 2021

InSight Crime was a proud supporter of this year's Global Investigative Journalism Conference, which took place November 1 through November 5 and convened nearly 2,000 journalists…

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Tracking Dirty Money and Tren de Aragua

29 OCT 2021

InSight Crime was delighted to support investigative reporting in the Americas through a workshop with our friends at Connectas, a non-profit journalism initiative that facilitates collaboration…

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