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Special Report: Crime and security – trends and solutions (ISSN 17414474)

Executive summary

Crime and violence rates in Latin America are exceptionally high by international standards. At the same time the causes and effects of crime are multi-dimensional, complex and constantly evolving. This report therefore has the relatively modest aim of identifying current major trends and developments in crime and security in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This has been done by identifying eight main headlines or propositions that together seek to give a snap-shot of the subject. The first headline is that despite fluctuations, the homicide rate, seen as the best proxy for crime in general, remains exceptionally high by international standards. In second place, despite suffering some blows at the hands of law enforcement agencies, LAC criminal gangs remain strong, resilient, flexible, and adaptable. Connected to this, the third point is that the economics of the crime business – particularly the top regional activities, drug trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal mining – continue to be highly profitable: there is a robust business model in place. Fourth, a big and possibly 'game changing' development is making itself felt: the rise of a heroin and opioids epidemic in the United States.

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