This week, InSight Crime reported on how a massacre at the Litoral prison 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 to expand their control; analyzed how the capture of Jeison Alexander Lorca Salazar, 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, 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.

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Jailhouse Massacre in Ecuador Illustrates Rapid Criminal Evolution

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 >

Next Week

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 >

Read the investigation >

This Week's Criminal Profile: Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier

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.

Trending: Uruguay's New President, Yamandú Orsi, Faces Major Security Challenges

Uruguay’s president-elect, Yamandú Orsi, from leftist Frente Amplio party, faces significant security challenges 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 >

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