The Rise and Fall of the Choneros, Ecuador’s Drug Trafficking Opportunists
Jorge Bismarck Véliz España was an ambitious man growing up in Puerto Arturo, a neighborhood in the larger town of…
DataInSights: Latin America’s Homicide Hotspots
Brutal fights to control lucrative criminal economies have led specific provinces and cities across Latin America to have sky-high homicide…
Cocaine Seizures Spike in Sweden as Traffickers Seek Secondary Routes
Historic cocaine seizures in Sweden in recent months highlight the Nordic country’s increasing role as a gateway for cocaine from…
Ecuador’s Choneros To Fragment Further After Ex-Leader’s Murder
The murder of a notorious Ecuadorian gang leader, Junior Roldán, alias “JR,” in Colombia reveals how fragmentation has diminished the…
‘Clan Farruku’ Arrests Highlight Albanians’ Latin America Cocaine Connections
Spanish authorities have dismantled an Albanian criminal group that trafficked cocaine from Latin America across Europe, showcasing the increasing importance…
Ecuador Gang Massacre Highlights Intensified Fight for Drug Routes
A massacre in Ecuador’s northern port city of Esmeraldas has underlined how competition over cocaine trafficking routes is contributing to…
Russia Emerges as Alternative Route for Cocaine Headed to Europe
Another major cocaine seizure on Russian territory suggests that the country may be becoming a transit point for cocaine to…
Ecuador Eases Access to Guns Amid Spike in Violence
Ecuador is allowing civilians to carry guns in response to growing insecurity, potentially worsening the country’s violence by giving criminals…
InSight Crime’s Cocaine Seizure Round-Up 2022
Cocaine seizure figures from Latin America in 2022 suggest traffickers are varying their routes to avoid detection, as authorities get…
Wildlife Protection Treaty Hits 50 Amid Challenges
This March 3, World Wildlife Day coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signing of an international wildlife trafficking treaty…