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Binational kidnapping gangs made up of Colombians and Venezuelans are spreading from the border states into central Venezuela, fuelling a trend that has seen Venezuela overtake Colombia as a kidnapping hotspot.

Published in News Briefs
Wednesday, 24 April 2013 10:59

Mexico's Violent Crime Numbers Don't Add Up

Murders "unrelated" to drug trafficking went up in the first four months of the current  administration, according to Mexican government figures -- but does this really mean that the narcos are killing less, while all other forms of violence are growing?

Published in News Analysis

A new report shows how the number of kidnappings carried out by Colombia's illegal armed groups has nosedived over the last 10 years, corresponding to the changing dynamics of the country's conflict.

Published in News Briefs
Thursday, 14 February 2013 11:13

FARC Set to Release Kidnapped Police

Colombia's largest guerrilla group the FARC was set to release two abducted policemen, and promised to free a soldier, in a gesture that could calm the controversy that threatened to destabilize peace talks with the government.

Published in News Briefs

Colombia's second-largest guerrilla group the ELN announced the kidnap of two German citizens in the Venezuelan border region, in what looks like an attempt to increase pressure on the government to let the group join peace talks.

Published in News Briefs

A presidential candidate in Ecuador has fallen victim to an express kidnapping, a crime becoming increasingly common across Latin America. 

Published in News Briefs

A French national has been freed after after a Mexican court overturned her 60-year sentence for belonging to a kidnapping gang, due to failings such as the police staging a fake arrest for the media.

Published in News Briefs

Rebels from Colombia's smaller rebel group have kidnapped five prospectors and launched attacks across the country in an effort to force the government into granting them a seat at peace negotiations.

Published in News Analysis
Thursday, 17 January 2013 07:54

Kidnappings Double in Rio de Janeiro

Kidnappings in Rio de Janeiro almost doubled between 2011 and 2012, which could be connected to the damage to drug gangs’ income from a program to send elite police units into favelas.

Published in News Briefs

Mexico may have seen an average of 72 kidnappings per day throughout 2012, according to an NGO, a huge number which bears no relation to official statistics and which would make the country one of the kidnap capitals of the world.

Published in News Briefs
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InSight Crime Special Series

Juarez After The War

Juarez After The War

As a bitter war between rival cartels grinds to an end, Ciudad Juarez has lost the title of world murder capital, and is moving towards something more like normality.

See entire series »

The Zetas And The Battle For Monterrey

The Zetas and the Battle for Monterrey

InSight Crime delves into the Zetas' battle for Mexico’s industrial capital, Monterrey, getting to the essence of a criminal gang that defies easy definition.

See entire series »

Target: Migrants

Target: Migrants

The growth of organized crime in Mexico and Central America has led to an increase in violence and insecurity across the region, posing challenges to citizens, public security forces, and travelers.

See entire series »

Slavery in Latin America

Slavery in Latin America

InSight Crime coordinated an investigation into modern slavery, looking at how Latin America’s criminal groups traffic human beings and force them to work as slaves.

See entire series »

Displacement in Latin America

Displacement in Latin America

InSight Crime coordinated an investigation into the new face of displacement in Latin America, where organized criminal groups are expanding and forcing people to flee.

See entire series »

Nicaragua: A Paradise Lost?

Nicaragua: A Paradise Lost?

Though Nicaragua is lauded as a model of citizen security, it has problems, particularly with the police. InSight Crime breaks these down in this series.

See entire series »

Gorilla in the Room

The Gorilla in the Room

As Latin America’s leaders prepare to meet in Colombia for theupcoming Summit of the Americas, InSight Crime examines the thorny subject of drug legalization.

See entire series »

Zetas in Guatemala

The Zetas in Guatemala

Mexico's Zetas have taken Guatemala by storm, and they are testing this country and the rest of the region: fail this test, and Central America sinks deeper into the abyss.

See entire series »

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