The Web of Illicit Economies Ensnaring Durán, Ecuador
At the heart of Durán’s transformation into Ecuador’s epicenter of organized crime lies a complex web of interconnected criminal economies.…
Warring Criminal Groups Are Targeting Civilians in Chiapas, Mexico
An intensification of violence in the southern Mexican border state of Chiapas is pushing the number of displaced and missing…
Is Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua Behind Surge in Chile Kidnappings?
The last decade has seen a 135% increase in kidnappings in Chile, with the greatest surge occurring between 2021 and…
Challenges Remain Despite Drop in Cattle Rustling in Colombia
A big drop in cattle rustling in Colombia appears to be related to the increasingly local criminal networks involved in…
The Pioneering Albanian Trafficker Who Took Ecuador’s Drug Trade By Storm
Around midnight on February 6, 2024, Ecuador’s National Police stormed a beige, two-story villa in a luxurious gated community on…
Kidnapping Data for Ransom Is a Booming Business in Brazil
Brazilian cyber gangs are increasingly stealing data and holding it for ransom, and getting ahead of law enforcement, which is…
Data InSights: Security Boost to Tackle Brazil’s Flood Chaos Led to More Marijuana Seizures
Major floods in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul led to record marijuana seizures there as criminal…
Mexico’s Extreme Election Violence Explained
Political candidates in criminally strategic states like Chiapas, Guerrero, and Michoacán saw an outburst of violence this election cycle in…
Data InSights: Latin America Smugglers Opt for Commercial Flights
Smugglers transporting illicit drugs, arms, and gold are increasingly using commercial and cargo flights to move shipments, according to data…
Beyond China: How Other Countries Provide Precursor Chemicals to Mexico
On September 21, 2021, Javier Algredo Vázquez was on his way to a US law enforcement office to reclaim chemical…