InSight Crime
@insightcrime.org
14 years of research and analysis on organized crime and corruption in Latin America and the Caribbean.
🇻🇪 | For years, Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns has been erroneously perceived as a vertically integrated drug trafficking organization. But what is it really, and how has it been impacted by Maduro's arrest? Find out at our exclusive event in English here: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
February 8, 2026 at 11:02 PM
🇻🇪 | For years, Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns has been erroneously perceived as a vertically integrated drug trafficking organization. But what is it really, and how has it been impacted by Maduro's arrest? Find out at our exclusive event in English here: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
🇻🇪 🇺🇸 | How has Nicolás Maduro's arrest impacted organized crime in Venezuela, a month on? Explore our special coverage to learn about the reactions of armed groups such as the Caracas colectivos and the ELN on the Colombian-Venezuelan border: https://bit.ly/4qmWT4v
February 8, 2026 at 9:01 PM
🇻🇪 🇺🇸 | How has Nicolás Maduro's arrest impacted organized crime in Venezuela, a month on? Explore our special coverage to learn about the reactions of armed groups such as the Caracas colectivos and the ELN on the Colombian-Venezuelan border: https://bit.ly/4qmWT4v
🇺🇸 | US officials killed two people aboard a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the Pacific, bringing the death toll since the deadly air strikes began to 128. Learn more in our updated tally here: https://bit.ly/4oxipDs
February 8, 2026 at 8:02 PM
🇺🇸 | US officials killed two people aboard a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the Pacific, bringing the death toll since the deadly air strikes began to 128. Learn more in our updated tally here: https://bit.ly/4oxipDs
🇪🇨 🇨🇴 | On the border between Colombia and Ecuador, new tariffs that will be imposed in February could encourage product smuggling. Discover how this trade war could benefit organized crime: https://bit.ly/4k6iYCD
February 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
🇪🇨 🇨🇴 | On the border between Colombia and Ecuador, new tariffs that will be imposed in February could encourage product smuggling. Discover how this trade war could benefit organized crime: https://bit.ly/4k6iYCD
🇧🇷 | Brazil’s President Lula said AI and organized crime could threaten the 2026 elections by shaping public opinion and forging images, audio, and video to create “parallel realities” that mislead voters. Read our coverage to learn more: https://bit.ly/3Iymh7t
February 8, 2026 at 4:02 PM
🇧🇷 | Brazil’s President Lula said AI and organized crime could threaten the 2026 elections by shaping public opinion and forging images, audio, and video to create “parallel realities” that mislead voters. Read our coverage to learn more: https://bit.ly/3Iymh7t
🇻🇪 | Want to know what Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns really is, and what has changed in Venezuela following the removal of former President Maduro? Join us on February 27, and our team of researchers will explain: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
February 8, 2026 at 12:02 AM
🇻🇪 | Want to know what Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns really is, and what has changed in Venezuela following the removal of former President Maduro? Join us on February 27, and our team of researchers will explain: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
🇻🇪 🇺🇸 | It's now a month since US forces arrested Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. With an interim administration in Venezuela under Washington's watch, what does the future hold for the guerrilla groups operating in the country? Read more in our analysis: https://bit.ly/4pRPsSs
February 7, 2026 at 10:02 PM
🇻🇪 🇺🇸 | It's now a month since US forces arrested Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. With an interim administration in Venezuela under Washington's watch, what does the future hold for the guerrilla groups operating in the country? Read more in our analysis: https://bit.ly/4pRPsSs
🇻🇪 🇨🇴 | Amid political readjustments following Maduro’s departure from Venezuela, guerrilla groups such as the ELN and FARC dissidents are evaluating whether to stay or leave the country. What is the most beneficial scenario for these groups? Read our latest analysis:: https://bit.ly/4pRPsSs
February 7, 2026 at 8:01 PM
🇻🇪 🇨🇴 | Amid political readjustments following Maduro’s departure from Venezuela, guerrilla groups such as the ELN and FARC dissidents are evaluating whether to stay or leave the country. What is the most beneficial scenario for these groups? Read our latest analysis:: https://bit.ly/4pRPsSs
🇻🇪 | Mayors, ministers, and other Venezuelan officials have maintained ties with the colectivos for years. Who are these armed civilians, and how have they operated with impunity under leaders Chávez and Maduro?: https://bit.ly/4qbserp
February 7, 2026 at 6:02 PM
🇻🇪 | Mayors, ministers, and other Venezuelan officials have maintained ties with the colectivos for years. Who are these armed civilians, and how have they operated with impunity under leaders Chávez and Maduro?: https://bit.ly/4qbserp
🇻🇪 | For years, Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns has been erroneously perceived as a vertically integrated drug trafficking organization. But what is it really, and how has it been impacted by Maduro's arrest? Find out at our exclusive event in English here: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
February 7, 2026 at 3:15 PM
🇻🇪 | For years, Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns has been erroneously perceived as a vertically integrated drug trafficking organization. But what is it really, and how has it been impacted by Maduro's arrest? Find out at our exclusive event in English here: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
🇧🇷 | With the First Capital Command (PCC) focused on international trafficking, authorities believe that Rio de Janeiro’s Red Command is trying to expand into São Paulo’s drug market,. Local residents face growing uncertainty. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Ze6Wh3
February 7, 2026 at 12:02 AM
🇧🇷 | With the First Capital Command (PCC) focused on international trafficking, authorities believe that Rio de Janeiro’s Red Command is trying to expand into São Paulo’s drug market,. Local residents face growing uncertainty. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Ze6Wh3
🇺🇸 | Another strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific killed two people. Read InSight Crime’s timeline of the strikes to see how they have unfolded: https://bit.ly/4oxipDs
February 6, 2026 at 11:01 PM
🇺🇸 | Another strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific killed two people. Read InSight Crime’s timeline of the strikes to see how they have unfolded: https://bit.ly/4oxipDs
🇨🇴 | Iván Mordisco, the fugitive leader of the main FARC dissident faction, is one of the high-value targets Colombia's President Gustavo Petro promised to catch and hand over to Donald Trump after their meeting at the White House. Learn about his criminal trajectory here: https://bit.ly/3YaKKUL
February 6, 2026 at 9:31 PM
🇨🇴 | Iván Mordisco, the fugitive leader of the main FARC dissident faction, is one of the high-value targets Colombia's President Gustavo Petro promised to catch and hand over to Donald Trump after their meeting at the White House. Learn about his criminal trajectory here: https://bit.ly/3YaKKUL
🇪🇸 | The Spanish National Police accused a senior police officer of facilitating the entry of more than 58 tons of cocaine into the country. The inspector was arrested in 2024 in connection with a 13-ton shipment sent from Ecuador. Read about the seizure.
Spain Reclaims Position as Cocaine Gateway to Europe
A record 13-ton seizure of cocaine is more evidence that Spain has bounced back as the main entry point into Europe for the drug.
bit.ly
February 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
🇪🇸 | The Spanish National Police accused a senior police officer of facilitating the entry of more than 58 tons of cocaine into the country. The inspector was arrested in 2024 in connection with a 13-ton shipment sent from Ecuador. Read about the seizure.
🇵🇾 | Government raids on marijuana plantations in Paraguay continue unabated. Authorities seized 960 kg of marijuana in a nature reserve on the border with Argentina. Learn about Paraguay's role in illegal marijuana trafficking: https://bit.ly/3NUNcwB
February 6, 2026 at 7:02 PM
🇵🇾 | Government raids on marijuana plantations in Paraguay continue unabated. Authorities seized 960 kg of marijuana in a nature reserve on the border with Argentina. Learn about Paraguay's role in illegal marijuana trafficking: https://bit.ly/3NUNcwB
🇨🇴 | Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump's meeting at the White House led the Colombian president to make some key security promises, amongst them prioritizing the capture of alias “Pablito,” leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN). Read his profile here: https://bit.ly/4tg5PeF
February 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM
🇨🇴 | Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump's meeting at the White House led the Colombian president to make some key security promises, amongst them prioritizing the capture of alias “Pablito,” leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN). Read his profile here: https://bit.ly/4tg5PeF
🇻🇪 🇨🇴 | The US expects Delcy Rodríguez’s government to show concrete results against guerrilla groups linked to drug trafficking in Venezuela. Will Chavismo be willing to sacrifice old relationships for new commitments to Washington? Read more here: https://bit.ly/4pRPsSs
February 6, 2026 at 5:02 PM
🇻🇪 🇨🇴 | The US expects Delcy Rodríguez’s government to show concrete results against guerrilla groups linked to drug trafficking in Venezuela. Will Chavismo be willing to sacrifice old relationships for new commitments to Washington? Read more here: https://bit.ly/4pRPsSs
🇨🇴 | Criminal groups are increasingly using social media to recruit minors in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador. Fake job offers, content that glorifies these groups, and threats are among the methods used. Read more: https://bit.ly/4ljaIhQ
February 6, 2026 at 4:03 PM
🇨🇴 | Criminal groups are increasingly using social media to recruit minors in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador. Fake job offers, content that glorifies these groups, and threats are among the methods used. Read more: https://bit.ly/4ljaIhQ
🇻🇪 | Following former President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest by the United States, the colectivos that have defended the Chavista regime for decades took to the streets. How much influence will these criminal groups have in the new power struggle in Venezuela? Read more: https://bit.ly/4qbserp
February 6, 2026 at 3:31 PM
🇻🇪 | Following former President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest by the United States, the colectivos that have defended the Chavista regime for decades took to the streets. How much influence will these criminal groups have in the new power struggle in Venezuela? Read more: https://bit.ly/4qbserp
🇻🇪 | For years, Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns has been erroneously perceived as a vertically integrated drug trafficking organization. But what is it really, and how has it been impacted by Maduro's arrest? Find out at our exclusive event in English here: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
February 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
🇻🇪 | For years, Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns has been erroneously perceived as a vertically integrated drug trafficking organization. But what is it really, and how has it been impacted by Maduro's arrest? Find out at our exclusive event in English here: https://bit.ly/45Q26dA
🇪🇨 🇨🇴 | The trade war between Ecuador and Colombia is the latest in a long list of diplomatic tensions that have affected Gustavo Petro’s government. Meanwhile, organized crime could benefit from the deterioration in cooperation between the two countries. Read more: https://bit.ly/4k6iYCD
February 6, 2026 at 2:03 PM
🇪🇨 🇨🇴 | The trade war between Ecuador and Colombia is the latest in a long list of diplomatic tensions that have affected Gustavo Petro’s government. Meanwhile, organized crime could benefit from the deterioration in cooperation between the two countries. Read more: https://bit.ly/4k6iYCD
🇨🇴 | President Gustavo Petro prioritized the capture of Colombia's three criminal leaders after meeting with President Donalnd Trump. The top leader of the Gaitanistas, Jobanis de Jesús Ávila, alias “Chiquito Malo,” is a top target. Read his profile here: https://bit.ly/4qOOMy1
February 5, 2026 at 11:30 PM
🇨🇴 | President Gustavo Petro prioritized the capture of Colombia's three criminal leaders after meeting with President Donalnd Trump. The top leader of the Gaitanistas, Jobanis de Jesús Ávila, alias “Chiquito Malo,” is a top target. Read his profile here: https://bit.ly/4qOOMy1
🇪🇨 | Taking advantage of weak government oversight, Ecuador’s criminal groups, such as the Lagartos and Águilas, have created their own private security firms, using them to carry firearms and launder money. Read our coverage here: https://bit.ly/4qUMoX1
February 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM
🇪🇨 | Taking advantage of weak government oversight, Ecuador’s criminal groups, such as the Lagartos and Águilas, have created their own private security firms, using them to carry firearms and launder money. Read our coverage here: https://bit.ly/4qUMoX1
🇪🇸 | Spanish authorities made a record seizure of 13 tons of cocaine from Ecuador in October 2024, and a senior Spanish police officer was recently accused of participating. Read about the seizure.
Spain Reclaims Position as Cocaine Gateway to Europe
A record 13-ton seizure of cocaine is more evidence that Spain has bounced back as the main entry point into Europe for the drug.
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 10:03 PM
🇪🇸 | Spanish authorities made a record seizure of 13 tons of cocaine from Ecuador in October 2024, and a senior Spanish police officer was recently accused of participating. Read about the seizure.
#NewAnalysis | Top Criminal Takedowns of 2025.
Top Criminal Takedowns of 2025
In underground bunkers, press conferences, and malls, law enforcement nabbed some major crime bosses in 2025. Here, the tales of their arrests
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 9:02 PM
#NewAnalysis | Top Criminal Takedowns of 2025.