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This week, InSight Crime examines 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 from the ground on how criminal gangs in Buenaventura, Colombia, exert control both inside and outside prison walls. Additionally, we analyze the designation of regional criminal groups as “terrorist organizations” by the Trump administration and assess the effectiveness of this move; we review 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 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. |
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New Investigative Podcast Series |
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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 > |
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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 > See more of our coverage on Chile >
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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 > Learn more about the EU’s support in the region > |
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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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| | | 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 > |
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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 > |
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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 > Explore our coverage of security policies > |
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