InSight Crime

🇨🇴 | Digital extortion has gained ground in Colombia, according to a study by the DNP and Asocapitales. Between January and April 2026, extortion increased by 8% compared to the same period in 2025. Read our coverage of this criminal dynamic in the region here: bit.ly/4dOmLTp

🌎Ecuador’s El Encuentro and Paraguay’s Minga Guazú are among the few megaprisons already operating outside El Salvador. Argentina, Panama, and other countries are pursuing similar projects. Explore the region’s growing prison expansion. bit.ly/4zbefqG

The revised edition of The Synthetic Drug Revolution is here. Drawing on more than 15 years of InSight Crime research, this exclusive e-book explores the criminal networks, trafficking routes, and market dynamics shaping the synthetic drug trade. Get your E-book here: bit.ly/4zKFyHG

Costa Rica is a key freight route connecting the ports of Panama with the rest of Central America. But transport costs are rising as trucks travelling these routes are falling prey to violent and sophisticated cargo theft gangs. bit.ly/3USaiHW

🇪🇨 | Ecuador’s most prominent criminal groups, the Choneros and the Lobos, have been in a bloody feud since the death of Choneros leader Jorge Luis Zambrano, alias “Rasquiña.” His murder sparked a power struggle that now extends far beyond this rivalry. Learn more: bit.ly/4zfwE5e

Every local story reveals something bigger. Our reporting connects community experiences to the criminal dynamics shaping the Americas. Subscribe to Weekly InSight for the latest investigations: bit.ly/3UDKkaU

Costa Rica saw more than three cases of cargo theft a week in 2025, recording over 156 cases of hijacked trucks. Our investigation reveals the routes targeted, gangs’ modus operandi, and the risks and costs for the freight industry: bit.ly/3USaiHW

🇪🇨 | In 2024, President Noboa designated 22 criminal groups as terrorist organizations. Two years later, roughly 48 splinter cells are active nationwide. At the heart of this fragmentation lies the legacy of Jorge Luis Zambrano, alias “Rasquiña.” Learn more: bit.ly/4zfwE5e

For over a decade, InSight Crime has investigated the illicit fentanyl supply chain, from production hubs to retail markets. Explore the criminal networks and routes shaping the synthetic drug trade in our revised e-book, available from US$15: bit.ly/4zKFyHG

InSight Crime’s newsletter is how policymakers, journalists, and security experts stay informed about the organized crime challenges they face. Subscribe now for exclusive insights delivered to your inbox every week. bit.ly/3OIblHm

Costa Rican authorities have busted what they claim to be a multimillion-dollar cargo theft ring linked to drug sales, fuel theft, and murder. For more on how these gangs operate, check out our explainer or our full investigation. bit.ly/3USaiHW

🇪🇨 | How did the Lobos become one of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs in just a few years? More on how the former prison gang has become a key player in transnational drug trafficking and illegal gold mining: youtube.com/watch?v=pY0RXOok…

See what is like to investigate organized crime. Subscribe to our free newsletter. Learn how our investigations take shape in From the Ground Up, our bi-weekly newsletter featuring stories from the field: bit.ly/3UDKkaU

The Cartel of the Suns is often described as a traditional drug cartel. Our investigations show something more complex: a corruption network connecting state officials, armed groups, drug trafficking, and illegal gold mining. Watch our video to learn how it works: bit.ly/4cRV77i

🇧🇷 | In 2026, trafficking of weight loss medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro has surged in Brazil. How are these medications diverted in Paraguay and smuggled into São Paulo? youtube.com/shorts/q6lfYAaxv…

🇧🇷 | Lula secured a fourth presidential term in Brazil, where criminal networks remain a major challenge. From money laundering through financial institutions to organized crime in the Amazon, our latest analysis examines the agenda awaiting his government: bit.ly/4yGyOcU

InSight Crime’s newsletter is how policymakers, journalists, and security experts stay informed about the organized crime challenges they face. Subscribe now for exclusive insights delivered to your inbox every week. bit.ly/3OIblHm

Gangs of highwaymen have turned Costa Rica into a cargo theft hotspot. To find out how this booming criminal economy works, we rode shotgun with a Panamanian truck driver and his armed security detail. bit.ly/3USaiHW

From Honduras and Costa Rica to Ecuador and Panama, governments are embracing massive prisons as part of their response to organized crime. Our analysis maps where these projects stand—and what they reveal about regional security strategies. bit.ly/4zbefqG

🇨🇴 | Digital extortion has gained ground in Colombia, according to a study by the DNP and Asocapitales. Between January and April 2026, extortion increased by 8% compared to the same period in 2025. Read our coverage of this criminal dynamic in the region here: bit.ly/4dOmLTp