What Does El Mencho’s Killing in Mexico Mean for LatAm Cocaine Flows?
The killing of Jalisco Cartel New Generation leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” in Mexico has raised questions about…
GameChangers 2025: The Unstoppable Rise of Environmental Crime
In 2025, environmental crimes spread into corners of the Amazon Basin that had so far largely escaped the rampant plunder…
Ecuador’s Official Security Claims Belie Reality
Ecuador’s government marked two years in office by trumpeting the results of its hardline anti-crime policies. But its claims of…
On the Radar: Rebel Leader Iván Mordisco Threatens Violence After Colombia Military Strikes
This week in On the Radar, we analyze the arrest in Spain of one of Ecuador’s most powerful criminal leaders,…
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…
Top Leader of Ecuador’s Lobos Gang Arrested in Spain
You’ve probably heard of Fito, Ecuador’s most famous gang boss, who was recently extradited to the United States. But authorities…
US Foreign Terrorist Designations in Latin America: An Interactive Map
The United States has intensified its tactics for fighting organized crime in Latin America, including designating various Latin American criminal…
From the Caribbean to the Pacific: Piracy on the Rise in Latin America
In the late 17th century, Caribbean pirates hunted galleons loaded with gold and silver bound for Europe. Today, things have…
Colombia: Land of Opportunity — And Danger — for Ecuador’s Crime Bosses
A trend of Ecuadorian criminal leaders turning up in neighboring Colombia underscores how the country serves as a refuge —…
Illegal Arms Trafficking Is Ecuador’s Security Blind Spot
In recent years, Ecuador has been engulfed in a wave of violence driven by organized crime — a crisis fueled…