Since the death of controversial "Emerald Czar" Victor Carranza in April 2013, a series of attacks against members of Colombia's emerald industry have led to speculation that another "Green War"…
Authorities in Peru are implementing new fuel restrictions in an effort to hinder illegal mining operations, but such a measure may have the unintended effect of increasing fuel smuggling from…
Security forces in Peru have launched a dawn helicopter raid on an illegal mining operation and dynamited $500,000 worth of equipment, as part of an ongoing initiative to attack the lucrative…
The amount of money laundered through illegal gold mining in Peru has shot up nearly 50 percent in 18 months, in another indication of the rapid expansion of this criminal…
Peru and Colombia are set to coordinate their first ever joint operation against illegal gold mining as Peru begins an all out assault against the multi-billion dollar trade.
Authorities in Mexico have intercepted a ship carrying almost 76,000 tons of iron ore likely linked to the Knights Templar, a load that is dwarfed by the scale of the…
Colombia's most powerful criminal syndicate, the Urabeños, is moving in on the lucrative emerald business, looking to take control of the gem trade and the money laundering potential…
Police in Colombia report that FARC guerrillas and BACRIM groups are working together to mine gold in the Pacific province of Choco, further evidence of the business…
Mexico's iron and steel industries suffered losses of $1.3 billion in 2013 due to theft and illegal mining, illustrating the growing importance of the mining industry as a source of…
Authorities in Peru suspect half of all the country's gold exporters have connections to illegal gold mining, demonstrating just how entwined the legal and illegal Peruvian gold markets have become.
Special security teams tasked with catching contraband gold smuggling will be placed in five airports in Peru, though the efficiency of gold laundering inside the country means the…
Slave-like conditions, frequent accidents, disease and sexual exploitation are a normal part of the illegal gold mining trade in Peru, a gripping report by a watchdog group reveals.
About InSight Crime
Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted
This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…
Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention
Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…
InSight Crime on El País Podcast
This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.
InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press
This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…
Escaping Barrio 18
Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…
Stay Informed with Weekly InSight
Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox.
SUBSCRIBE