Weekly InSight
This week, InSight Crime investigates the mysterious disappearance of the contraband fuel market in Zulia, Venezuela’s most populous state. Despite being oil-rich, for years Zulia’s inhabitants relied on pimpineros hocking contraband gas to avoid hours-long queues at subsidized gas stations. Then, one day, the queues were gone. And so was the black market.

We also focus on Paraguay, looking at its vital role in cocaine trafficking to Europe despite not being a cocaine producer, and why the 36th iteration of a hugely successful marijuana eradication operation makes virtually no difference to cultivation of the crop on the country’s border with Brazil. 

And we turn our attention to Ecuador, where President Guillermo Lasso is fighting the country’s escalating crisis of insecurity by permitting citizens to carry weapons. Has allowing more arms ever been the answer to violence?


Lastly, we question whether a series of cocaine seizures in Russia suggests the country is being used as a new route into Europe.

Featured

Inside the Evaporating Black Market for Gasoline in Zulia, Venezuela

The black market for gasoline is quickly disappearing in Venezuela's oil-rich state of Zulia as changing government policies and supply increases chip away at one of the state's biggest criminal economies.

Gas stations in the northeastern state maintained short, orderly lines when InSight Crime traveled to Zulia's capital earlier this year. Obtaining fuel required no covert stops at the houses of black-market vendors, known as pimpineros, nor were their stalls anywhere to be found.

Read the investigation >

NewsAnalysis

Paraguay Shown as Key Link in Bolivia-Europe Cocaine Route


Authorities in South America and Europe have dealt a blow to a trans-Atlantic drug trafficking network in an operation that has underlined ... 

Ecuador Eases Access to Guns Amid Spike in Violence


Ecuador is allowing civilians to carry guns in response to growing insecurity, potentially worsening the country's violence by giving...
Paraguay Anti-Marijuana Operations Barely Dent Production in Amambay
Russia Emerges as Alternative Route for Cocaine Headed to Europe

Impact

Media Looks to InSight Crime for Ecuador Knowledge

 
As Ecuador’s security crisis worsens, global media outlets have called on InSight Crime to provide expert knowledge on the criminal dynamics fueling the growing criminality.

Americas Quarterly cited our work on Ecuador several times in its piece linking Albanian syndicates to Ecuadorian crime. Infobae also picked up our coverage, while El País referenced our work in a piece on regional insecurity.


Read the article on Ecuador >

Meanwhile, at the end of March, Colombia’s Ombudsman's Office referenced our work three times when issuing a temporary risk report.

Criminal Actors

Profiles of some of the notable criminal personalities and groups that have marked this week.

Browse by country >

Rotela Clan

Rotela Clan is a criminal group run by the Rotela family in Paraguay. It was originally specialized...

Lobos

The Lobos have emerged as Ecuador's second-largest mega-gang, with over 8,000 members spread...

Media Mentions

April 8, 2023
EL PAÍS


El País Cali - Apps en Google Play
"The only exception is El Salvador, where, according to InSight Crime, 'the government’s direct offensive against gangs has caused a drastic reduction in homicide rates, although presumably at the cost of systematic human rights violations.'"

Our Trending Topics 

VENEZUELA
PARAGUAY
CONTRABAND
COCAINE EUROPE
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InSight Crime · Medellin · Medellin 0000 · Colombia