Weekly InSight
This week, immediately following news of the killing of Colombian dissident guerrilla commander Jesús Santrich in Venezuela, InSight Crime looked at how Santrich’s death raises the risk of new conflicts in a region where guerrilla factions battle among themselves and Venezuelan forces. Turning to Central America, we examined in detail the US State Department list of officials in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras who are “credibly alleged” to be engaged in corruption or drug trafficking. Other reports from the region included seafaring human smugglers on the Pacific coast of Mexico, a Venezuelan mining gang’s fortunes being upended and targeted killings coming to Ecuador.

Featured

Death of Jesús Santrich Throws Wrench Into Conflict in Venezuela

The killing of a notorious Colombian dissident guerrilla leader on Venezuelan soil has the potential to destabilize underworld dynamics in both countries, fueling an already raging conflict along their shared border.

On May 18, the Segunda Marquetalia – a dissident network of former guerrillas from the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) – announced the death of Seuxis Pausias Hernández Solarte, alias “Jesús Santrich.”

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NewsAnalysis

Will US-Central America Relations Falter With Latest Corruption List?


Though far from revelatory, a new list of officials the United States government suspects of corruption and drug trafficking in El Salvador... 

Smugglers Head to the Pacific, Ferrying People From Mexico to the US


A boat that capsized off California’s shores carrying some 30 people, who paid more than $15,000 each to be shuttled from Mexico to the...
Brazil’s Environmental Agencies Linked to Trafficking of Amazon Wood
Dedicated Hitmen – The New Modus Operandi in Ecuador
Impunity Driving Uptick in Violence Against Yanomami in Brazil
Corruption Plagues Argentina’s Justice System
Jamaica Struggling With Constant Theft of Street Lights
Happy Mother’s Day from Your Friendly Neighborhood Cartel Boss
Bolivia Family Clans Key Cocaine Suppliers to Brazil, Colombia

Criminal Actors

Profiles of some of the notable criminal personalities and groups that have marked this week.

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‘Jesús Santrich’

Seuxis Pausías Hernández Solarte, alias “Jesús Santrich,” was a senior former FARC commander who participated in...

Segunda Marquetalia

The Segunda Marquetalia is a group made up of former FARC guerrillas who refused to demobilize after the group’s...

Media Mentions

MAY 19, 2021
VICE



"Santrich was the most visible face of the organization. His death is certainly a bitter blow for the Segunda Marquetalia faction of the ex-FARC Mafia."

Co-director Jeremy McDermott on Jesús Santrich

Impact

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InSight Crime · Medellin · Medellin 0000 · Colombia