** Weekly InSight
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March 21, 2025
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This week, InSight Crime analyzed ([link removed]) how the Trump administration’s decision to return a high-profile gang boss facing terrorism charges to El Salvador as part of a broader effort to deport hundreds of Venezuelan citizens raises questions about the US government’s commitment to its longstanding MS13 crackdown. By dismissing charges against César Humberto López Larios, alias “Greñas,” the administration appears to be prioritizing mass deportation over prosecuting MS13 leaders on US soil, a key pillar of its fight against transnational gangs.
We also examined ([link removed]) why the arrest of Guatemala’s most wanted fugitive may not be enough to dismantle the drug trafficking network he led; spoke ([link removed]) with an expert about how a new data collection system could help combat human trafficking; scrutinized ([link removed]) the role of private security companies in Colombia’s criminal landscape; and explored ([link removed]) how mass migration from Venezuela has enabled organized crime groups to tighten their grip on areas left behind by fleeing residents.
** Featured
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** Could US Deportations Compromise Trump Administration’s MS13 Crackdown? ([link removed])
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The Trump administration’s decision to return a jailed gang leader to El Salvador as part of a controversial effort to deport hundreds of Venezuelan citizens could signal the US government’s willingness to compromise its longstanding MS13 crackdown in favor of mass deportation. ([link removed])
César Humberto López Larios, alias “Greñas,” a veteran leader of the MS13 street gang, was flown to El Salvador on March 15 alongside other suspected Salvadoran gang members and more than 200 Venezuelans accused by US officials of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang. ([link removed])
Read the article here > ([link removed])
See more coverage on MS13 > ([link removed])
** New Episode: The Shadow of El Dorado ([link removed])
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** Episode 6: The Strike ([link removed])
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This week, we released the sixth episode ([link removed]) of our first investigative podcast series: The Shadow of El Dorado: Unearthing Colombia’s Blood Gold ([link removed]) . Over the course of seven episodes, we explore the enigmatic history behind the downfall of Segovia, a once-prosperous mining town in Colombia that has become a stronghold for organized crime.
We expose how not only mafias and criminal groups, but also politicians and business elites, have tainted the global gold supply with death, corruption, and devastation.
All episodes are available on our website, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms > ([link removed])
** News Analysis
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All News > ([link removed])
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** Will Arrest of Guatemala’s Most Wanted Fugitive Rattle Drug Underworld? ([link removed])
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The arrest of Guatemala’s most wanted fugitive marks a breakthrough in a years-long campaign to dismantle one … ([link removed])
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** Former Police Connect Private Security Companies and Crime Groups in Colombia ([link removed])
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A series of recent arrests related to private security companies in Colombia shows how some of … ([link removed])
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** How to Harness Data to Fight Human Trafficking in Latin America ([link removed])
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Human trafficking in Latin America has evolved into a complex and diversified criminal activity, adapting to the region’s social … ([link removed])
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** How Forced Migration Strengthened Organized Crime in Venezuela ([link removed])
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A new report from the World Bank has found that the forced displacement of millions of Venezuelans has helped … ([link removed])
** Impact
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What We Do > ([link removed])
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This week, InSight Crime project manager Alex Papadovassilakis led a presentation on reporting crime stories to journalists in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago during workshops organized by the Media Institute of the Caribbean. Caribbean nations play a key part in the region’s criminal landscape and took a prominent role in the 2024 Homicide Round-Up.
Read our 2024 Homicide Round-Up > ([link removed])
Explore our coverage of the Caribbean > ([link removed])
** This Week's Criminal Profile: Huistas ([link removed])
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The Huistas are one of Guatemala’s most powerful drug trafficking groups, controlling key territory along the border with Mexico. Last week, Mexican authorities arrested one of the group’s leaders, Aler Baldomero Samayoa Recinos, alias “Chicharra,” one of Guatemala’s most wanted fugitives. ([link removed])
The Huistas' deep-rooted ties to businessmen, law enforcement officials, and politicians have allowed them to dominate the criminal landscape in northwestern Guatemala. InSight Crime has been tracking its role in the drug trade for nearly a decade. ([link removed])
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Read our Huistas profile > ([link removed])
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Check out our investigation: Guatemala Elites and Organized Crime: The ‘Huistas’ > ([link removed])
** Multimedia
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** He’s not as famous as “El Chapo” Guzmán, but Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, alias “Chapo Isidro,” has the FBI’s attention. The crime boss was recently added to the agency’s Top 10 Most Wanted list. He’s been operating in Mexico’s underworld for more than 20 years. Could the authorities’ renewed focus mean his time is finally up? ([link removed])
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See the whole Instagram Reel > ([link removed])
** Media Mentions
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About us > ([link removed])
March 19, 2025
BBC ([link removed])
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** "According to InSight Crime, a think tank specialising in organised crime, European criminal networks have been establishing their own drug smuggling routes in South America rather than relying on middlemen."
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Read the cited article > ([link removed])
** Trending Topic: Peru Declares State of Emergency as Violence Spikes in Capital City
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The government of Peru declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital of Lima in response to growing extortion and violence. The move expands the power of the security forces and follows the high-profile assassination of Paul Flores, a local singer in a popular cumbia band that had previously denounced extortion threats made against them.
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Read Peru Extortion Scheme Shows How Private Schools Make Easy Targets > ([link removed])
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Explore our coverage of Peru > ([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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