This post is part of our annual Summer InSights series. Criminal groups became armed proxies for the state, crushing opposition and enforcing control in exchange for impunity. Related ContentDive into our analyses on the impacts of Maduro’s arrest, from the reaction of the country’s new government to the criminal groups to keep an eye on. Audio ContentCriminal ProfilesGet to know the figures at the center of Venezuela’s underworld through our criminal profiles. Don’t miss the rest of the Summer InSights 2026 seriesThat concludes the second edition of Summer InSights 2026.