Crime and Religion in Brazil: The Expansion of Rio’s Pure Third Command
In a powerful illustration of how religion mixes with crime, Brazilian police scaled a water tank in a Rio de…
How Organized Crime Set the Agenda for Ecuador’s Presidential Elections
Ecuador’s presidential candidates come from a wide ideological spectrum, but when it comes to organized crime, their campaigns – and…
Why Trump’s Tariffs Won’t Slow the Flow of Migrants or Fentanyl From Mexico
Fresh threats of tariffs from the US government may prove counterproductive in combating migrant smuggling and fentanyl trafficking networks, and…
Criminal Groups Are Ramping Up Explosives in Mexico
A series of recent attacks using improvised explosive devices in Mexico points to a generalization of warfare tactics among criminal…
The Medellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel, one of the most iconic and violent drug trafficking organizations in Colombia’s history, consolidated its control over…
Wilexis Alexander Acevedo Monasterios, alias ‘Wilexis’
Wilexis Acevedo was for a long time one of Venezuela’s most wanted criminals and the leader of the mega-gang bearing…
InSight Crime provides in-depth analysis on synthetic drugs in Mexico
InSight Crime co-director Steven Dudley appeared on the popular Mexican TV show Largo Aliento to discuss fentanyl and precursor chemicals…
Portugal Becoming Key Hub for Cocaine to Europe
Record-breaking cocaine seizures in Portugal in 2024 have cemented the country’s status as a crucial axis in drug trafficking routes…
Border Command
The Border Command (Comandos de la Frontera – CDF) is a Colombian criminal group that emerged in 2017. It was…
Deadly Gestures: Brazilian Gangs Crack Down on Hand Signs
In Brazil, where shifts in gang dynamics have created new violent hotspots, innocent bystanders are becoming victims of turf wars…