This week, InSight Crime reported on how a massacre at the Litoral prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador, reflects the fragmentation of criminal gangs.
** Weekly InSight
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November 28, 2024
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This week, InSight Crime reported on how a massacre at the Litoral prison ([link removed]) in Guayaquil, Ecuador, reflects the fragmentation of criminal gangs following the military’s efforts to regain control of the prisons.
We also explored how Haitian gangs are exploiting political instability ([link removed]) to expand their control; analyzed how the capture of Jeison Alexander Lorca Salazar ([link removed]) , a leader of the Tren de Aragua, marks another blow to the megabanda's governance in Colombia; examined a sharp rise in cocaine seizures in the Dominican Republic ([link removed]) , which underscores sustained increases in trafficking across the Caribbean, and more.
We invite you to join our virtual event, “Behind Bars, Out of Control: The Fall of Ecuador’s Prisons and the Rise of Its Mafias,” on Wednesday, December 4, at 11:00 AM (Quito), where we will discuss Ecuador’s prison crisis and its consequences. Register here. ([link removed])
** Featured
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** Jailhouse Massacre in Ecuador Illustrates Rapid Criminal Evolution ([link removed])
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A recent massacre inside Ecuador’s largest and most violent prison is an ominous sign that the country’s multiple criminal organizations are atomizing at a rapid pace as the government’s hardline security crackdown stalls.
The attack happened in the Litoral Penitentiary just outside the coastal city of Guayaquil in the early hours of November 12, when members of a group known as the Duendes (Dwarfs) attacked a rival gang, the Freddy Kruegers, local media reported.
Read the article > ([link removed])
** News Analysis
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** Colombia Nabs Another Top Tren de Aragua Leader With Venezuela’s Help ([link removed])
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The arrest of a high-ranking Tren de Aragua member marks another significant blow to the gang’s operations in Colombia. ([link removed])
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** Haiti Gangs Push For Power Amid Political Chaos ([link removed])
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Gangs in Haiti are exploiting political turmoil to tighten their grip on the country, paralyzing domestic and international efforts to restore law and order. ([link removed])
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** Dominican Republic Breaks Seizure Record Amid Renewed Caribbean Trafficking ([link removed])
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Record-breaking cocaine seizures in the Dominican Republic highlight the resurgence of the Caribbean… ([link removed])
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** What an Internal Split Means for Colombia’s Second Marquetalia ([link removed])
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A recent rift within the Second Marquetalia underscores the inherent fragility of alliances among Colombia’s illegal groups…
** Next Week
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The collapse of Ecuador’s prison system has fueled violence, rising homicide rates, and political unrest. On December 4 at 11:00 AM (Quito time), InSight Crime will release its investigation, "Behind Bars, Beyond Control: The Fall of Ecuador’s Prisons and the Rise of Its Mafias," accompanied by a virtual panel (in Spanish) to discuss the causes and consequences of this crisis.
Find registration here > ([link removed])
** Impact
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What We Do > ([link removed])
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Investigator Victoria Dittmar spoke with the Mexican outlet Aristegui Noticias about our investigation into cattle smuggling in Central America. The resurgence of this criminal economy has been linked to the reappearance of the screwworm plague in Mexico.
Cattle smuggling contributes to the deforestation of thousands of hectares and fuels violence against Indigenous communities. It also poses severe threats to public health and food safety, while having significant political ramifications, including the recent restriction on Mexican cattle imports to the United States.
See the interview > ([link removed])
Read the investigation > ([link removed])
** This Week's Criminal Profile: Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier
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On November 19, a coalition of Haitian gangs attacked areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince, that remained outside their control. The country is grappling with severe unrest and a deepening political crisis. Days earlier, Jimmy Chérizier, a notorious gang leader known as "Barbecue," demanded the resignation of the electoral council.
Former police officer Jimmy Chérizier is one of Haiti's most prominent gang leaders, with an extensive criminal career leading the G9 criminal alliance while reportedly collaborating with the police and political factions. He was allegedly involved in numerous attacks and incidents, including the infamous La Saline Massacre in 2018.
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Read our profile on Jimmy Chérizier, alias ‘Barbecue’ > ([link removed])
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See all of our Haiti coverage> ([link removed])
** Multimedia
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More than 30 tons of cocaine have already been seized in the Dominican Republic in 2024, surpassing the 18 tons confiscated in 2023 and the all-time record of 27.7 tons in 2022. This reflects the resurgence of the Caribbean as a strategic drug trafficking route to Europe, with record cocaine production in Colombia being a key factor.
Read the article > ([link removed])
Read our coverage on cocaine in Europe > ([link removed])
** Media Mentions
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November 21
Al Jazeera ([link removed])
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"Jeremy McDermott, co-director of the organized crime monitoring group InSight Crime, said the Comuneros may be willing to negotiate with the Petro government simply because their political views align."
Read our coverage about peace in Colombia > ([link removed])
** Trending: Uruguay's New President, Yamandú Orsi, Faces Major Security Challenges
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Uruguay’s president-elect, Yamandú Orsi, from leftist Frente Amplio party, faces significant security challenges ([link removed]) as he prepares to take office. Chief among these are an ineffective prison system, drug trafficking across the country’s borders, and narcotics-driven violence. Orsi secured 49.84% of the vote, defeating his right-wing opponent, Álvaro Delgado of the National Party, by a margin of 95,000 votes.
Check out our coverage to learn more about these challenges and Orsi’s plans to address them > ([link removed])
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