How Venezuela’s Prison System Fueled a Reggaeton Star’s Career
The Venezuelan singer “Rsiete” is a mysterious figure. A full view of his face is nowhere to be found on…
What Netflix’s ‘Griselda’ Gets Wrong About Women in Organized Crime
Netflix recently released its eponymous Griselda Blanco biopic, starring Sofía Vergara, which follows the drug trafficker’s journey from Medellín to…
Does Music Drive Crime in Trinidad and Tobago?
Recent criminal cases involving artists of the “Trinibad” music genre have highlighted the links between the music industry and crime…
Chile Ups Efforts Against ‘Narco’ Mausoleums and Funerals
The Chilean government has opened up a new front in the fight against drug trafficking, incorporating social and cultural approaches…
How Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel Has Stayed United for Decades
The break-up cycle of large criminal groups in Mexico is a predictable one. One after another, groups have arisen to…
Sinaloa’s Rat, Jalisco’s Rooster: The Evolution of Cartel Patches in Mexico
The discovery of a previously unknown military-style patch identifying a specialized drone warfare unit within Mexico’s CJNG highlights the range…
How Grenades Became a Common Part of Venezuela’s Criminal Arsenal
Grenades like those usually seen on battlefields have become common weapons in Venezuela’s underworld, where criminal groups regularly use them…
How Common Experiences Help Mexican Gangs Find New Recruits
Criminal groups in Mexico and across Latin America have become adept at grooming vulnerable young men as recruits. A new…
Mexican Groups’ Recruitment Tactics Unveiled In New Study
Recruiters for Mexican criminal groups sway prospective members with promises of social belonging, according to a new study that highlights…
Pablo Escobar and the Real Criminal Story of the Cocaine Bear
The sight of a bear enthusiastically snorting a line of cocaine off a severed human leg may be an enduring…