This week, InSight Crime analyzes the most pressing organized crime issues that are awaiting Argentina’s newly-elected president, Javier Milei. The borders with Bolivia and Paraguay have long been important corridors for smuggling cocaine and marijuana, and the presence of international ports have made the country an attractive hub for drug smuggling. But Argentina must also tackle corruption and money laundering to achieve long-lasting security gains.
Our on-the-ground reporting delves into Sásabe, a small town near the US border in Mexico’s state of Sonora, where two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel are battling over the control of migrant smuggling. In June, the Chapitos banned all fentanyl production in Sinaloa, pushing criminal groups to fight over other lucrative economies and exposing civilians to new levels of violence.
And in Peru, we explore how the Shining Path is staying afloat amid the recent arrests of key members. The rebel group and its remnants have long been in control of the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers region, which is Peru’s primary coca growing hotspot. Even if authorities’ continued operations are successful, criminal presence is likely to remain in the region, profiting from coca cultivation, illegal logging, and extortion.
In Haiti, we analyze how the death of ”Black Alex Mana,” leader of the Belekou gang, could impact the future of the country’s most powerful gang alliance, the G9.
Finally, we assess the implications of a drug laboratory bust in Portugal and what this means for the future of cocaine production in Europe.
