Mike LaSusa
@mikelasusa.bsky.social
Journalist reporting on things legal and illegal
Colombia and Ecuador -- two of the most violent countries in the region -- need to cooperate to tackle organized crime. This kind of political gamesmanship doesn't solve security problems. It makes them worse.
latinamericadailybriefing.substack.com/p/ecuador-pi...
latinamericadailybriefing.substack.com/p/ecuador-pi...
January 23, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Colombia and Ecuador -- two of the most violent countries in the region -- need to cooperate to tackle organized crime. This kind of political gamesmanship doesn't solve security problems. It makes them worse.
latinamericadailybriefing.substack.com/p/ecuador-pi...
latinamericadailybriefing.substack.com/p/ecuador-pi...
"Deterrence" logic may have delivered a blow to migrant smuggling networks, but it won't work against drug trafficking. In this week's newsletter, I explain why it’s rare that you can copy and paste a crime-fighting solution from one domain to another.
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
Weekly InSight | Crackdowns, Consequences, and the Criminals Who Fill the Gaps
mailchi.mp
January 23, 2026 at 2:39 PM
"Deterrence" logic may have delivered a blow to migrant smuggling networks, but it won't work against drug trafficking. In this week's newsletter, I explain why it’s rare that you can copy and paste a crime-fighting solution from one domain to another.
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
Trump's removal of immigration protections for Haitians, Venezuelans and Cubans could have adverse consequences for national security. He wants to send huge numbers of people back to these countries in crisis, which would likely further destabilize the US "back yard."
January 22, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Trump's removal of immigration protections for Haitians, Venezuelans and Cubans could have adverse consequences for national security. He wants to send huge numbers of people back to these countries in crisis, which would likely further destabilize the US "back yard."
This is an absolutely wild story-behind-the-story from Jeff Ernst and @dadams7308.bsky.social. Do not miss it.
#NewAnalysis | How InSight Crime Tracked Down an Explosive Narco Video in Honduras.
How InSight Crime Tracked Down an Explosive Narco Video in Honduras
On September 3, 2024, InSight Crime published a video of Honduras elites with drug traffickers. This is the story of how we got that video.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 7:54 PM
This is an absolutely wild story-behind-the-story from Jeff Ernst and @dadams7308.bsky.social. Do not miss it.
The US arrest of Nicolás Maduro has shined an international spotlight on the system of corruption that’s been governing Venezuela for years. But Maduro didn’t build that system on his own. In this video, I look at five other figures who played key roles 👇
January 19, 2026 at 6:19 PM
The US arrest of Nicolás Maduro has shined an international spotlight on the system of corruption that’s been governing Venezuela for years. But Maduro didn’t build that system on his own. In this video, I look at five other figures who played key roles 👇
I wrote more in this week's newsletter about the US increasingly using deadly force in the war on drugs. Not only is it costly - in human, political and financial terms - it's not even working.
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
Weekly InSight | Cocaine Still Flows Despite Drug Boat Bombings
mailchi.mp
January 16, 2026 at 4:13 PM
I wrote more in this week's newsletter about the US increasingly using deadly force in the war on drugs. Not only is it costly - in human, political and financial terms - it's not even working.
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
New @weforum.org report polls 1,300 "decision-makers and thought leaders" on global risks. Crime ranks near the bottom, but that doesn't capture how it affects the stuff at the top of the list: armed conflict, climate change, polarization, erosion of human rights, cyber insecurity, etc.
January 14, 2026 at 9:58 PM
New @weforum.org report polls 1,300 "decision-makers and thought leaders" on global risks. Crime ranks near the bottom, but that doesn't capture how it affects the stuff at the top of the list: armed conflict, climate change, polarization, erosion of human rights, cyber insecurity, etc.
More crucial work from our Venezuela team explaining the context around Maduro's arrest and what comes next:
5 Criminal Figures Who Helped Develop Venezuela’s System of Corruption
insightcrime.org/news/5-crimi...
5 Criminal Figures Who Helped Develop Venezuela’s System of Corruption
insightcrime.org/news/5-crimi...
5 Criminal Figures Who Helped Develop Venezuela's System of Corruption
Learn more about the top people involved in building the system of corruption within Venezuela's government.
insightcrime.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:58 PM
More crucial work from our Venezuela team explaining the context around Maduro's arrest and what comes next:
5 Criminal Figures Who Helped Develop Venezuela’s System of Corruption
insightcrime.org/news/5-crimi...
5 Criminal Figures Who Helped Develop Venezuela’s System of Corruption
insightcrime.org/news/5-crimi...
Two record-breaking cocaine seizures in Europe hit the news today. 3 tons in Sweden and 10 tons en route from Brazil towards Spain.
After three months of US boat bombings - 35 strikes, 123 people killed - drug trafficking hasn't stopped. It's just shifting routes.
After three months of US boat bombings - 35 strikes, 123 people killed - drug trafficking hasn't stopped. It's just shifting routes.
January 12, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Two record-breaking cocaine seizures in Europe hit the news today. 3 tons in Sweden and 10 tons en route from Brazil towards Spain.
After three months of US boat bombings - 35 strikes, 123 people killed - drug trafficking hasn't stopped. It's just shifting routes.
After three months of US boat bombings - 35 strikes, 123 people killed - drug trafficking hasn't stopped. It's just shifting routes.
In the span of a single phone call, Trump apparently swung from wanting to attack Colombia to offering to cooperate on military actions against the ELN. Seems like Petro took a lesson from Sheinbaum.
🔴 Trump anuncia que se reunirá con Petro en la Casa Blanca tras una conversación telefónica
Es la primera vez que ambos presidentes conversan y la llamada ocurre en medio de las tensiones por las amenazas a la soberanía de Colombia
Es la primera vez que ambos presidentes conversan y la llamada ocurre en medio de las tensiones por las amenazas a la soberanía de Colombia
Trump anuncia que se reunirá con Petro en la Casa Blanca tras una conversación telefónica
Es la primera vez que ambos presidentes conversan y la llamada ocurre en medio de las tensiones por las amenazas a la soberanía de Colombia
dozz.es
January 9, 2026 at 6:34 PM
In the span of a single phone call, Trump apparently swung from wanting to attack Colombia to offering to cooperate on military actions against the ELN. Seems like Petro took a lesson from Sheinbaum.
Venezuela's political situation has long been influenced by organized crime, and that will remain the case in the post-Maduro era. Here I take a look at five criminal organizations will likely play decisive roles going forward:
insightcrime.org/uncategorize...
insightcrime.org/uncategorize...
5 Crime Groups You Need to Know to Understand Post-Maduro Venezuela
These Venezuelan criminal organizations will likely play decisive roles in the country’s organized crime scene going forward post-Maduro.
insightcrime.org
January 8, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Venezuela's political situation has long been influenced by organized crime, and that will remain the case in the post-Maduro era. Here I take a look at five criminal organizations will likely play decisive roles going forward:
insightcrime.org/uncategorize...
insightcrime.org/uncategorize...
Everyone is wondering what's next for Venezuela. At
@InSightCrime
we've been covering the country for 15 years.
On Jan. 9, we're bringing our from-the-field perspective to a discussion about Maduro's arrest and other criminal game changers. Don't miss it: insightcrime.org/event/donors...
@InSightCrime
we've been covering the country for 15 years.
On Jan. 9, we're bringing our from-the-field perspective to a discussion about Maduro's arrest and other criminal game changers. Don't miss it: insightcrime.org/event/donors...
A Decade of Tectonic Shifts in Criminal Markets —And What to Expect in 2026
To attend and participate live, you can make a donation as small as $15. Your generosity also supports our work in the coming year.
insightcrime.org
January 8, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Everyone is wondering what's next for Venezuela. At
@InSightCrime
we've been covering the country for 15 years.
On Jan. 9, we're bringing our from-the-field perspective to a discussion about Maduro's arrest and other criminal game changers. Don't miss it: insightcrime.org/event/donors...
@InSightCrime
we've been covering the country for 15 years.
On Jan. 9, we're bringing our from-the-field perspective to a discussion about Maduro's arrest and other criminal game changers. Don't miss it: insightcrime.org/event/donors...
Interesting tidbits on US cyber capabilities and the power cuts in Caracas ahead of the Maduro raid from
@politico.com's natsec newsletter
@politico.com's natsec newsletter
January 7, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Interesting tidbits on US cyber capabilities and the power cuts in Caracas ahead of the Maduro raid from
@politico.com's natsec newsletter
@politico.com's natsec newsletter
Thinking about Rubio joking that the US "saved $50 million" by capturing Maduro itself rather than paying the bounty it had put on him ... How much did the arrest operation cost? Some estimates suggest the broader deployment in the Caribbean is already over $1 billion.
January 6, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Thinking about Rubio joking that the US "saved $50 million" by capturing Maduro itself rather than paying the bounty it had put on him ... How much did the arrest operation cost? Some estimates suggest the broader deployment in the Caribbean is already over $1 billion.
Very interesting early poll from Washington Post on Venezuela intervention
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
January 5, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Very interesting early poll from Washington Post on Venezuela intervention
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
I read through the Tren de Aragua indictments announced yesterday by the Justice Department. A few initial thoughts 🧵👇
December 19, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I read through the Tren de Aragua indictments announced yesterday by the Justice Department. A few initial thoughts 🧵👇
The US Treasury keeps adding new sanctions designations against criminal actors, even though its enforcement capacity was already limited. How will the agency keep up with all these new additions? @treasurydept.bsky.social t.co/Ab4IP4CBHk
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0339
t.co
December 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The US Treasury keeps adding new sanctions designations against criminal actors, even though its enforcement capacity was already limited. How will the agency keep up with all these new additions? @treasurydept.bsky.social t.co/Ab4IP4CBHk
The US designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, putting the drug on par with nuclear bombs and weaponized biological agents. Here's what the designation means for organized crime:
insightcrime.org/news/what-ha...
insightcrime.org/news/what-ha...
What Happens Now That the US Has Labeled Fentanyl a WMD
US President Donald Trump has designated the synthetic drug fentanyl as a WMD, putting the drug on par with nuclear bombs
insightcrime.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The US designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, putting the drug on par with nuclear bombs and weaponized biological agents. Here's what the designation means for organized crime:
insightcrime.org/news/what-ha...
insightcrime.org/news/what-ha...
Lots of talk today about Chile’s election and how fears of crime are boosting right-wing candidates and movements across Latin America. I wrote last year about the political consequences of organized crime: insightcrime.org/news/gamecha...
GameChangers 2024: Organized Crime Gets Political
Criminal organizations showed this past year that they pose a growing threat to democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
insightcrime.org
December 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Lots of talk today about Chile’s election and how fears of crime are boosting right-wing candidates and movements across Latin America. I wrote last year about the political consequences of organized crime: insightcrime.org/news/gamecha...
The Cartel of the Suns and Tren de Aragua get most of the attention, but the ELN is Maduro’s most battle-tested criminal ally. In this week's newsletter, I break down why the guerrilla group is central to understanding Venezuela’s security landscape: mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
Weekly InSight | Binational Guerrillas Take Center Stage
mailchi.mp
December 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The Cartel of the Suns and Tren de Aragua get most of the attention, but the ELN is Maduro’s most battle-tested criminal ally. In this week's newsletter, I break down why the guerrilla group is central to understanding Venezuela’s security landscape: mailchi.mp/insightcrime...
The ELN guerrillas say they're ready to restart peace talks with the Colombian govt. But our new report lays out the case that the ELN has never been serious about a peace deal, and has instead cynically exploited the negotiations to grow more powerful👇
insightcrime.org/investigatio...
insightcrime.org/investigatio...
Peace Never Had a Chance: Colombia’s ELN in Venezuela
This investigation looks at the growth of the ELN in Venezuela and how this has allowed the rebel group to project itself into Colombia.
insightcrime.org
December 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The ELN guerrillas say they're ready to restart peace talks with the Colombian govt. But our new report lays out the case that the ELN has never been serious about a peace deal, and has instead cynically exploited the negotiations to grow more powerful👇
insightcrime.org/investigatio...
insightcrime.org/investigatio...
Two ex-Venezuelan officials charged with belonging to the Cartel of the Suns wrote Trump claiming to have intel on the group, though they haven’t been in Venezuela for 5+ years. Their timing, right after Trump pardoned Honduras’ ex-president, suggests they may be seeking leniency
December 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Two ex-Venezuelan officials charged with belonging to the Cartel of the Suns wrote Trump claiming to have intel on the group, though they haven’t been in Venezuela for 5+ years. Their timing, right after Trump pardoned Honduras’ ex-president, suggests they may be seeking leniency
New US national security strategy dropped last week. The tone is different, very "America first." But there's lots of continuity in the policy goals re:LatAm (stemming migration and drug trafficking, building relationships to counter adversaries like China) t.co/Q3N3EroOdO
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf
t.co
December 8, 2025 at 4:17 PM
New US national security strategy dropped last week. The tone is different, very "America first." But there's lots of continuity in the policy goals re:LatAm (stemming migration and drug trafficking, building relationships to counter adversaries like China) t.co/Q3N3EroOdO
Tren de Aragua is back in the news again, with a fresh round of name-and-shame sanctions and a letter to Trump from a Venezuelan ex-official looking for leniency. Seems like a good time to share this video from earlier this year breaking down some myths about the gang:
December 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Tren de Aragua is back in the news again, with a fresh round of name-and-shame sanctions and a letter to Trump from a Venezuelan ex-official looking for leniency. Seems like a good time to share this video from earlier this year breaking down some myths about the gang:
In a new plea agreement, El Chapo's son admits to kidnapping El Mayo last year, but says the US "did not request, induce, sanction, approve, or condone" the operation... 🤔 The US also didn't refuse, disapprove, or condemn it
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
In a new plea agreement, El Chapo's son admits to kidnapping El Mayo last year, but says the US "did not request, induce, sanction, approve, or condone" the operation... 🤔 The US also didn't refuse, disapprove, or condemn it