InSight Crime's 2021 Homicide Round-Up

In 2021, most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean experienced a marked increase in murders. Resurgent violence was to be expected after some of the world’s strictest COVID-19 lockdowns…

Chile's Microtrafficking Zero Program: Success or Failure?

After seven years in action, Chile's hardline strategy to rid the country of microtrafficking has been exported abroad, lauded as a remarkable success. But is the tough stance really working?…

By Land and Sea - Chile Dealing with Surge of Creepy Marijuana

Authorities in Chile have reported a string of massive maritime seizures of marijuana, indicating traffickers are searching for new smuggling routes for their highly potent pot.

GameChangers 2021: Long on Criminality, Short on Democracy in Year to Come

Prediction of the criminal dynamics for 2022 is even harder than most years, as it involves predicting the march of coronavirus. Organized crime does not exist in a bubble.

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 catch.

Chile to Dubai, a Thriving Route for Gold Traffickers

Chile has become a convenient exit point for illegal gold from the Amazon, with Dubai emerging as a consistent destination for such shipments.

Tren de Aragua, Venezuela's Most Dangerous Gang, Spotted in Chile

Authorities in Chile are on high alert due to reports that a Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua is involved in migrant smuggling in the country, further evidence of…

Hashish, Wax, THC Oil: Latin America’s Marijuana Markets Diversify

A series of seizures and drug raids across Latin America have revealed how previously niche high-strength marijuana products are establishing themselves within the region’s drug markets.

Chile Loggers Try New Rules to Crack Down on Illegal Timber

Faced with endemic timber theft and uneven government enforcement, logging companies in Chile have agreed to new guidelines meant to cut down on the sale of illegal wood.

Weapons Traffickers Target Chile's Port of Iquique

After a seizure of disassembled guns found in vehicles shipped from the United States to Chile, a prosecutor warned that the South American country – not typically a hub for…

Bolivia Seemingly Powerless to Stop Rampant Vehicle Smuggling

A recent clash between soldiers and smugglers has pointed to how Bolivia’s trade in contraband has reached a flashpoint.

Convoys of Stolen Wood - Widespread Theft in Chile's Logging Industry

A spate of arrests targeting truck drivers carrying stolen wood have highlighted how the province of Arauco is at the heart of increases in timber trafficking across Chile.