The Future of the ELN
The future of the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN) is now intimately connected to Venezuela. As…
Border Wars: The ELN and the Takeover of Catatumbo
On the morning of January 16, 2025, hundreds of Colombian rebels, some who invaded from Venezuela, launched an offensive to…
The Endless Battle for Bajo Cauca: Colombia’s Criminal Crown Jewel
Near the banks of the Nechí River—one of the main hubs of illegal gold mining in northern Colombia—Javier*, a community…
Major Criminal Powers Dispute Key Corridors in Colombia
The balance of power in Colombia’s criminal underworld is in flux, as turbulent shakeups see major criminal players competing for…
Colombia’s Peace Efforts Spark Criminal Disputes and Divisions
The prospects for peace in Colombia appear increasingly remote as illegal armed groups fragment amid a gold and cocaine bonanza.…
The 5 Most-Read Criminal Group Profiles in 2024
This year saw critical changes within some of the most notorious criminal organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting…
ELN Attack Destroys Chances for Peace With Strengthening Colombian Guerrilla Group
Colombia’s government has ended peace talks with the country’s largest remaining guerrilla group after a deadly attack on a military…
Two Years On, Colombia’s ‘Total Peace’ Brings More Conflict
Two years into President Gustavo Petro’s administration, Total Peace, the Colombian government’s flagship policy to end the country’s civil conflict,…
Colombia’s Total Peace Hangs by a Thread After Ceasefire With ELN Expires
Peace negotiations with Colombia’s last true guerrilla insurgency are on the verge of collapse after the August 3 expiration of…
Predictions for Venezuela’s Post-Election Criminal Landscape
Nicolás Maduro claimed another six years in power after a disputed election, which will result in another wave of migration…