The InSight Take: Rubén Rocha Moya’s Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Ties Highlight Criminal Governance in Mexico
On April 29, US prosecutors in the Southern District of New York announced an explosive set of charges against Rubén…
5 Models of Criminal Control Over Fentanyl Markets in Northern Mexico
In various parts of Mexico, local drug markets do not operate according to supply-and-demand logics alone. What is sold, how…
How Fentanyl Was Introduced in Mexico’s Local Drug Markets
As Mexican criminal organizations became the main suppliers of illicit fentanyl to the United States, small pockets of domestic consumption…
How Criminal Decisions Over the Drug Market Impact Public Health in Northern Mexico
“Buying drugs isn’t about choice anymore – it’s about whatever’s available.” That’s how many drug users in northern Mexico describe…
GameChangers 2025: Cryptocurrency Is Now in the Criminal Mainstream
A decade ago, Latin America’s criminal groups were starting to experiment with cryptocurrency, but in 2025, they went all in.…
What Happens Now That the US Has Labeled Fentanyl a WMD
US President Donald Trump has designated the synthetic drug fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, putting the drug on…
What’s Missing From the US-China Fentanyl Agreement
The United States and China announced they would step up the fight against fentanyl as part of a new trade…
Chinese Broker’s Arrest Hits Mexico’s Fentanyl Trade Harder Than ‘Kingpin’ Captures
After several months on the run, a Chinese citizen accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking network with ties to…
On the Radar: Are the Chapitos and CJNG Working Together in Mexico?
This week, we look at a massive DEA sweep against alleged Jalisco Cartel operatives in the US, growing signs of…
US Sanctions Mexican Banks in Fentanyl Crackdown, Fueling Bilateral Tensions
The US government recently sanctioned three Mexican financial institutions for allegedly laundering drug money, adding to a series of US…