Spring ICAIE Policy Brief: Emerging Transnational Organized Crime Threats in Latin America: Converging Criminalized Markets & Illicit Vectors

Read New ICAIE Report: The multi-billion dollar illicit economies across
Latin America, long centered on the cocaine
and narcotics trade but diversifying to new
commodities and activities, are undergoing a
volatile, profound reordering and restructuring,
with long-term strategic repercussions in the
years to come for the United States and its key
allies in the hemisphere.

This significant reordering of illicit networks
structure in the Western Hemisphere is not
taking place in a vacuum nor are the traditional
policy and engagement tools in place to
mitigate the impact of this evolution of the
erosion of the rule of law, democratic
governance and corruption.

Now Latin America is facing a “perfect storm of
reinforcing economic, criminal and political
stresses that is eroding its institutions and
economic prospects, radicalizing its people,
and undermining its commitment to democracy
and the rule of law.” The malign influence of
China, Russia, and Iran exacerbates regional
anti-crime strategies.

In this context we identify five emerging
security trends that offer new challenges to law
enforcement and policy communities in the
region that are far reaching, and threaten to
accelerate the negative trends unless dealt with
effectively.