The Deep-Rooted Persistence of Venezuelan Organized Crime Beyond the Maduro Regime

The removal of Nicolás Maduro raises a critical question: why does Venezuela’s organized crime persist despite the shift in leadership? The answer lies in the fact that the criminal infrastructure was never dependent on a single individual.

Over several decades, illicit economies have become deeply integrated into Venezuela’s political institutions, security apparatus, and various territories. Drug trafficking syndicates, illegal mining operations, prison gangs, and guerrilla groups have formed symbiotic relationships with state officials, creating what InSight Crime characterizes as a “hybrid state.”

While the leadership at the top of the regime may change, the underlying operational machinery is significantly more difficult to dismantle.

Our latest video examines the evolution of organized crime in Venezuela and explores the necessary steps required to effectively weaken the nation’s criminal networks and illicit economies.

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