This week, InSight Crime considers how politicized and poorly resourced institutions could undermine the aims of a new anti-corruption law in Venezuela
We explore the impact of plummeting coca prices in some of Colombia’s biggest cultivation regions, and how the drop will affect cocaine trafficking dynamics. We also question whether Colombia’s reliance on Venezuela to quell the threat of the ELN will bring about success for President Gustavo Petro’s Total Peace plan, and assess the uphill challenge Colombia faces as it prioritizes reducing deforestation in its new security policy.
Lastly, in Mexico, we examine how the Jalisco Cartel New Generation takes advantage of unsuspecting tourists through timeshare scams in Puerto Vallarta.
Venezuela's National Assembly passed a law supposedly aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption. But in the hands of a state that is itself corrupt and whose institutions are deeply politicized, the law is unlikely to be effective.
The Asset Forfeiture Law was approved by the Venezuelan parliament, controlled by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela – PSUV), on April 27. The law permits the Attorney General’s Office to request the confiscation of assets allegedly linked to corruption or other crimes without the need for a criminal conviction.
InSight Crime’s Paraguay Election Coverage Draws Attention
Last week InSight Crime looked at the various anti-organized crime policies proposed by the candidates in Paraguay’s presidential election, which was won on April 30 by Santiago Peña.
Our pre-election coverage was cited by Le Monde in France, El Nacional in Venezuela, and Cuba Sí in Cuba, among others.
Also this week, director Steven Dudley spoke to Deutsche Welle about the role of the Chapitos, a Sinaloa Cartel faction, in trafficking fentanyl from Mexico to the United States.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Alejandro Hope, a great thinker on issues of security and organized crime, and a valued member of InSight Crime’s board of directors.
We send our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Criminal Actors
Profiles of some of the notable criminal personalities and groups that have marked this week.
We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact in fighting organized crime.
