Authorities in Colombia have reportedly started using armed helicopters to stop gasoline smugglers crossing the border from Venezuela, an aggressive measure that underscores both the seriousness of the problem and…
Paraguay has only one judge in charge of handling contraband cases, a startling admission in a country where smuggled contraband goods like sugar and cigarettes are endemic, highlighting the judicial…
Two recent cases from opposite ends of South America show how criminal activities as diverse as contraband smuggling and human trafficking converge around one simple everyday product: textiles.
Guatemala President Otto Perez Molina and Vice President Roxana Baldetti have come under intense scrutiny for their potential links to one of the country's biggest corruption scandals in recent years.
Data on seizures by customs officials at Mexicos ports of entry over the last decade illustrates where organized crime prefers to smuggle goods into and out of the country, and…
A former top official for Colombia's customs agency reportedly increased his wealth exponentially by collaborating with smugglers, allegations that, if true, illustrate how the corruption fueling Colombia's contraband boom extends far…
When subsidized products become available at supermarkets in Venezuela, networks of foot soldiers called bachaqueros swoop in and empty shelves of goods to then sell for huge markups on the…
Costa Rica is considering imposing prison sentences for small-scale contraband smugglers, a hardline response to an illicit activity that governments across the region are struggling to reign in. …
An investigation into Brazil's massive contraband trade highlights the scope of the problem and the modus operandi of smuggling networks responsible for economic losses of around $20 billion dollars a…
Peru reported seizing $379 million in pirated and contraband material in 2014, highlighting the extent of this illicit trade in the Andean country.
Police in Colombia have captured the so-called "fuel czar," the leader of a contraband smuggling operation along the border with Venezuela, in what could signal an effort to reduce the…
Contraband is a bigger problem in Costa Rica than drug trafficking, according to government officials, highlighting the scale of the country's illicit smuggling of goods that range from cigarettes to…
About InSight Crime
All Eyes on Ecuador
Our coverage of organized crime in Ecuador continues to be a valuable resource for international and local news outlets. Internationally, Reuters cited our 2022 Homicide Round-Up,…
Open Position: Social Media and Engagement Strategist
InSight Crime is looking for a Social Media and Engagement Strategist who will be focused on maintaining and improving InSight Crime’s reputation and interaction with its audiences through publishing activities…
Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception
Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…
InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues
For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…
InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited
We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.
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