InSight Weekly | Law and Order: The Northeast Cartel’s Stranglehold on Nuevo Laredo

This week, InSight Crime traveled to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where the Northeast Cartel controls the border city’s various criminal economies, including migrant smuggling. While a nervous peace pervades, past conflicts between criminal groups and security forces haunt its residents.

In Mexico, the kidnapping and murder of American citizens prompted a rare apology from Mexican criminal organizations. The Gulf Cartel’s apology, and delivery of those responsible, reflects the realization that taking on the United States is bad for business.

This week we also explore how coca crops are taking root in Central America, suggesting that cocaine production could expand beyond the current Andean strongholds into other parts of the region. As cocaine production increases, so does the diversification of markets, and we explore how Australia and New Zealand are becoming the most sought after destinations for traffickers.

In Argentina, one of the most powerful criminal syndicates is fracturing. More violence in the city of Rosario, already the most violent urban center in the country, is expected as a result.

Co-director Jeremy McDermott spoke with Luciana Vásquez of La Nación in Argentina about the country’s emerging role in the transnational drug trade, as well as the shortcomings of repressive law enforcement approaches to organized crime.

Read our coverage of Argentina >

In Mexico, Victoria Dittmar talked to El Financiero about fentanyl production in the country, highlighting how the extent of fentanyl production is still unclear.

Read our coverage of fentanyl >

Douwe den Held spoke with regional news source NTN24 about the findings from InSight Crime’s Cocaine Seizure Round-Up 2022.

Read the Cocaine Seizure Round-Up >

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

Browse by country >

MARCH 14, 2023
JAMAICA OBSERVER

"He also pointed to the fact that in 2020, there were 1,323 murders on the island, making it, according to InSight Crime's 2020 Homicide Report, ‘the most violent country in Latin America and the Caribbean region with the highest homicide rate of 46.5 per 100,000 people.'"

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The Northeast Cartel and Criminal Hegemony in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

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