Weekly InSight
This week, InSight Crime uncovers how Turkey has become a pivotal destination for transcontinental cocaine trafficking between Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. 

In Colombia, we chart the latest developments in the case of former drug lord Memo Fantasma, who may soon walk free after an attempt to extend his pre-trial detention was rejected. We break down how six top ex-FARC commanders were killed in the last year and what this means for drug trafficking in Colombia and Venezuela, and we delve into the UN’s bid to curb Jamaica’s rising gun violence.

Featured

Turkey: Cocaine Hub Between Europe and
the Middle East

Turkish and foreign law enforcement have seized record quantities of cocaine heading from South America to Turkey, revealing the expanding role of the country’s traffickers in shipping drugs to European and Middle Eastern markets.

In late June, Ecuadorean authorities seized roughly 850 kilograms of cocaine at the port of Guayaquil from a container of bananas bound for Turkey, according to a police statement. The shipment was almost identical to a separate load intercepted in Turkey's port of Mersin in April, also from Guayaquil and containing over 250 kilograms of cocaine.

Read the analysis >

NewsAnalysis

Memo Fantasma to Walk, Thanks to Colombian Prosecutor


Paramilitary drug lord, alias “Memo Fantasma” or “Will the Ghost,” may soon walk out of prison in Colombia, after the prosecutor fumbled... 

Why Were Six Ex-FARC Mafia Leaders Killed in the Last Year?


Six commanders of dissident groups of the now-defunct FARC have been killed between 2021 and 2022, with blood shed on both sides of...
Prosecutors, Mayors and Prison Directors - Paraguay's Frightening Assassination Problem
Can United Nations Help Jamaica Finally Curb Gun Violence?
Reliance on Human Smugglers Continues to Kill Migrants at US-Mexico Border
How Russian Cybercrime Group, Conti, Terrorized Latin America and Vanished
Sinaloa Cartel Leader Hunted After Killing Priests, Baseball Players and US Tourist

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

Browse by country >

PCC

The First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC) was inspired by the Red Command (Comando..

ELN

The National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional - ELN) is one of the two main guerrilla armies with...

Media Mentions
JUNE 28, 2022
VICE
"In 2019, the Mexican government installed a surveillance station operated by the Mexican marines out of the port of Tabasco. Although, the security measures are not enough to face the threats of piracy, according to a recent analysis by think-tank InSight Crime."

Impact

Memo Fantasma Coverage Gets Worldwide Attention

 
Guillermo Acevedo, the former Colombian drug lord and paramilitary commander better known as Memo Fantasma, may soon be allowed to leave prison. Since first revealing the identity of Memo Fantasma in 2020, InSight Crime has continued to lead coverage on his criminal dealings.  

Last week, we launched the first installment of a new investigative series detailing Memo Fantasma’s criminal history. It sparked great interest on both sides of the Atlantic, including being covered by El País in Spain as well as Cambio and Noticias Uno in Colombia. 
 

Our Trending Topics 
MEMO FANTASMA
VENEZUELA
INVISIBLES
CYBERCRIME
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InSight Crime · Medellin · Medellin 0000 · Colombia