The principal crossing point from Venezuela into Colombia, the frontier city of Cúcuta, has seen rising levels of violence as it struggles to confront the growing strength of Venezuelan criminal …
Extortion
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It is an election year in Venezuela, and President Nicolás Maduro is determined to cling to power. His criminal alliances will be crucial for the survival of his Chavista government. …
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Criminal News
Peruvian Gold Mining Gangs Launch Increasingly Brazen Attacks
by Jakob Kochby Jakob KochThe growth of gold mining gangs in Peru’s La Libertad province has led to a deteriorating security situation, with unprecedented attacks on security forces and one of the country’s largest …
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Ecuador’s numerous gangs boast significant territorial presence and a diversity of funding streams that will pose a formidable challenge to the country’s weak institutions in what will likely be a …
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Colombian authorities are struggling to disrupt extortion schemes run by imprisoned Venezuelan gang members, mounting a series of recent arrests but failing to prevent those incarcerated from continuing their criminal …
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The Venezuelan government’s failure to prevent the proliferation of organized crime groups means four illicit activities now generate an income equivalent to 15% of the country’s economy, a new report …
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The number of extortion cases recorded in Ecuador has skyrocketed over the past year, suggesting that the country’s fragmenting criminal gangs are seeking new sources of income.
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A striking number of security force uniforms are appearing on Venezuela’s illicit markets, becoming favored garb for criminals to commit crimes in competition with officials who also routinely commit abuses …
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Residents in Lima, Peru violently protested against Venezuelan extortion gangs in the city such as the Tren de Aragua cell the Gallegos. The protests suggest frustration at increasing extortion is …
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Extortion pervades nearly all levels of Venezuelan society, sowing greater fear as it becomes more violent. The repercussions of not paying extortion are severe: grenades thrown at businesses, assassinations, forced …