The InSight Take: El Salvador’s Mass Trials Put Bukele’s Gang Crackdown on Display
El Salvador’s mass trials of alleged gang members are the latest phase in President Nayib Bukele’s hardline security model, aimed…
Choneros’ Extraditions to US Will Test Ecuador’s Kingpin Strategy
The extraditions to the United States of key members of the Choneros is a litmus test for Ecuador’s kingpin strategy…
José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito”
José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito,” was the head of the Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most prominent criminal groups. He…
Peru’s Next President Faces Extortion, Illegal Mining, and a Hostile Congress
Conservative hardliner Keiko Fujimori is poised to become Peru’s next president, following a chaotic and divisive election that has underscored…
On the Radar: A Right Turn in Colombia and Peru Ups Security Concerns
Will Colombia’s president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella keep his security promises in office? Why did the DEA let fentanyl flow…
Yohan José Romero, alias ‘Johan Petrica’
Yohan José Romero, alias “Johan Petrica,” is the leader of the criminal mining syndicate Las Claritas Sindicato as well as…
The InSight Take: Colombia Turns Right With Abelardo de la Espriella. Here Are the Washington and Security Challenges.
The winner of Colombia’s presidential elections, Abelardo de la Espriella, promised to stop negotiating with guerrilla armies and to unleash…
El Makabelico and the Narco-Rap Soundtrack of Mexico’s Northeast Cartel
“I’m a drug trafficker from the Northeast, my cartel,” raps El Makabelico. “With my AK-47 slung across my chest, I…
Two Extremes: The Security Choices Facing Colombian Voters
Iván Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella, two candidates with opposing visions for Colombia’s future on security, drugs, and peace,…
Influencers and Organized Crime: Identifying Patterns in Their Relationship
Social media influencers are playing an increasingly important role in organized crime. The kidnapping of social media star Nicole Pardo…