Arrest of Jhonsson Pulpo Unlikely to Slow Peru’s Extortion Crisis
Jhonsson Smit Cruz Torres, alias “Jhonsson Pulpo,” the alleged leader of the Peruvian criminal group the Pulpos, was arrested in…
Podcast | “They Are Going to Kill Us”: Sex Workers in Peru Face Extortion and Violence
Sex workers in Peru face extortion and violence at the hands of police officers and members of Tren de Aragua.…
Podcast | A Marked House: Extortion in Ecuador
For Andrés and Juliana, Durán was home. That is, until extortionists from one of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs, the Chone…
The Final Chapter for Tren de Aragua Founder Larry Changa?
Larry Amaury Álvarez Núñez, alias “Larry Changa,” is set to be tried on charges of criminal association and kidnapping in…
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…
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…
Niño Guerrero Is Dead. This Is How He Built Latin America’s Most Notorious Criminal Franchise
Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” top leader of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua, was killed in…
When Tren del Llano Went to War: Stolen Elections and Vengeance in Venezuela
This article is part of a series produced by InSight Crime and the Venezuelan human rights organization Defiende Venezuela. Explore…
Ecuador Says Extortion Is Down. The Reality Is More Complicated.
It was time for after-school pickup at the San Francisco de Asís elementary school in downtown Guayaquil one recent afternoon…
On the Radar: What’s New in Trump’s Push for More Military Might to Fight Organized Crime?
The founder of one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal groups pleads guilty, US President Trump’s new regional anti-drug push aims…