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…
Organized Crime and AI: 5 Topics We Are Monitoring in 2026
As advances in artificial intelligence (AI) bring it to nearly all corners of life, both criminal organizations and law enforcement…
Mirror of Control: How the ELN Dominates Both Arauca and Apure
“Every organism in the territory. Every cell there is. They want to control it absolutely.” That is how a human…
Guerrilla Governance: The ELN’s Social Control in Táchira
On July 25, 2025, bursts of gunfire disrupted the usual calm in La Fría, a town in the Venezuelan state…
How a New Port Created Ecuador’s Latest Criminal Epicenter
It was around 3 p.m. on July 19 when a young man stumbled into a small billiards hall in the…
On the Radar: Latin America Blurs the Line Between Crime and Terrorism
This week, we look at the recent designation of two Brazilian powerhouse gangs as terrorist organizations in Paraguay, the passing…
Can Peru’s New President José Jerí Win His ‘War on Crime’?
The “war on crime” proposed by Peru’s new president faces major challenges as he seeks to pull the country out…
Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL)
The Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima – CSRL) is a regional criminal group based…
Venezuela Is So Corrupt That Criminals Are Impersonating Government Officials
At least seven people have been arrested in Venezuela this year for posing as corrupt officials from the justice system,…