** Weekly InSight
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February 21, 2025
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This week, InSight Crime examines ([link removed]) the surge in human trafficking in Chile, driven by rising migration and institutional shortcomings. A lack of expertise among authorities, a shortage of shelters, and widespread misinformation about the crime are major obstacles to tackling it. An absence of awareness campaigns further hinders detection, allowing this criminal economy to flourish in the shadows.
We also report ([link removed]) from the ground on how criminal gangs in Buenaventura, Colombia, exert control both inside and outside prison walls. Additionally, we analyze ([link removed]) the designation of regional criminal groups as “terrorist organizations” by the Trump administration and assess the effectiveness of this move; we review ([link removed]) the criminal impacts of the revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) made by the Donald Trump administration for some 350,000 Venezuelan migrants in the United States. Finally, we explore ([link removed]) the European Union’s growing support for Latin America and the Caribbean in response to deepening
alliances between European and Latin American criminal organizations, which pose a significant security threat on both sides of the Atlantic.
** New Investigative Podcast Series
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** The Shadow of El Dorado: Unearthing Colombia’s Blood Gold ([link removed])
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This week, InSight Crime launched its first investigative podcast series: The Shadow of El Dorado: Unearthing Colombia’s Blood Gold. Over seven episodes, we uncover the mysterious downfall of Segovia, a once-thriving mining town in Colombia that has become a stronghold for organized crime. We reveal how not only mafias and criminal groups, but also politicians and business elites, have tainted the gold supply chain with violence, corruption, and devastation—all the way to global consumers.
The first two episodes are now available on our website and major podcast platforms > ([link removed])
** Featured
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** Chile Struggles to Contain Rising Human Trafficking ([link removed])
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Human trafficking cases in Chile have increased alongside rising migration in recent years, but the country’s institutions are struggling to tackle the problem, according to a new report.
The number of human trafficking cases has exploded by more than tenfold over the past decade. The Attorney General’s Office identified 104 victims in sexual exploitation cases in 2023, compared with just nine in 2013.
Chile’s Centro de Politícas Migratorias, a think tank focused on migration policy, analyzed trends in the country’s human trafficking dynamics since 2011 to explain how this criminal economy has evolved.
Read the full article > ([link removed])
See more of our coverage on Chile > ([link removed])
** NewsAnalysis
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All News > ([link removed])
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** Q&A: Europe Steps Up Work with Latin America Against Criminal Networks ([link removed])
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The European Union has stepped up support to Latin America and the Caribbean, aware that growing alliances between… ([link removed])
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** The Fragile Peace Behind and Beyond Prison Bars in Colombia’s Buenaventura ([link removed])
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For decades, Buenaventura has been the crown jewel of drug trafficking along Colombia’s Pacific corridor… ([link removed])
** 3 Criminal Impacts of Revoking TPS for Venezuelans in the US ([link removed])
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The Trump administration officially revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans on February 3… ([link removed])
** Impact
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What We Do > ([link removed])
InSight Crime partnered with EL PACCTO to identify 28 of the most dangerous criminal networks in Latin America and the Caribbean, examining their history, state connections, and governance structures, among other factors.
From the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico to the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital - PCC) in Brazil and the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia - AGC), these organizations have forged strong ties with European criminal actors, becoming key players in the transnational crime landscape.
Explore our work on these networks > ([link removed])
Learn more about the EU’s support in the region > ([link removed])
** This Week's Criminal Profile: The Spartans
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This month, a fragile truce between the Spartans and the Shottas in Buenaventura came to an end, unleashing a new wave of violence in the port city. The Spartans walked away from negotiations after the government issued an arrest warrant for their spokesperson. The gangs refused to renew the truce, arguing that the government was showing no real interest in moving the peace talks forward.
In recent years, the Spartans have gained notoriety for their violent conflict with the Shottas, the city’s other dominant criminal group.
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Read our profile on The Spartans > ([link removed])
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Read our profile on The Shottas > ([link removed])
** Multimedia
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February 13, 2025
#GenderAndCrime #Peru
InSight Crime followed the stories of eight sex workers who share a common struggle: they have all been victims of violence by criminal groups, facing extortion and attacks simply because of their profession. These women were among the first victims of predatory criminal economies that paved the way for the Tren de Aragua’s expansion into Peru.
Read our post here > ([link removed])
** Media Mentions
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About us > ([link removed])
February 14, 2025
DW ([link removed])
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"Venezuela is one of the main transit points for Colombian cocaine to the Caribbean, Brazil, and other countries," InSight Crime co-founder and co-director Jeremy McDermott told DW. "And Brazil is now one of the main departure points for cocaine bound for Europe."
Read our coverage on cocaine > ([link removed])
** Trending Topic: Honduras Keeps Extradition Treaty, Eases Tensions with the US
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Honduran President Xiomara Castro has announced an agreement with the Trump administration to extend the extradition treaty between the two countries. The arrangement was set to expire at the end of February and had sparked a political storm between the two countries. Castro decided to “terminate” extradition to the US in August 2024, claiming that Washington was orchestrating an alleged coup against her. The opposition in Honduras fiercely criticized the move, arguing that it was intended to protect government officials and family members while raising concerns that drug traffickers would be able to operate with impunity in the Central American nation. The latest announcement will help defuse tensions between the two nations at a time when President Trump is emphasizing his tough-on-crime stance. Read more about the issue in our coverage.
Read our coverage of Honduras > ([link removed])
Explore our coverage of security policies > ([link removed])
Support our work
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.
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InSight Crime is sponsored by:
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The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ([link removed])
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