The hottest Organized Crime Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

The Mob Museum

Points And Figures • 666 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
💾 History Organized Crime
  1. The Mob Museum presents organized crime through a historical, evidence-based lens instead of glamorizing violence, with well-crafted exhibits like a basement speakeasy.
  2. The museum traces how power and corruption—such as William Clark bribing a legislature to build rail lines—helped prompt reforms like the 17th Amendment that changed how senators are chosen.
  3. Firsthand testimony from figures like Frank Calabrese Jr. shows that organized crime destroys families and civic life, and the museum is a compact, thought-provoking place to visit.

The Gringo Dream Burns in Puerto Vallarta

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 380 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🌐 International Organized Crime
  1. Puerto Vallarta’s gringo dream was built by Hollywood and tourism growth, drawing retirees and remote workers who saw it as a safe, Americanized beach town.
  2. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel launched blockades and arson after its leader was killed, torching vehicles and buildings, halting flights, and forcing people to shelter in place.
  3. The violence shows Puerto Vallarta is not immune to Mexico’s wider security problems, disproving the idea that it’s a place without Mexican problems.

Chamula Power; Mexico's Indigenous Cartel

CrashOut by Ioan Grillo • 569 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Organized Crime
  1. The Chamula Cartel, formed by indigenous people in Mexico, wields considerable power in Chiapas, involving in activities like drug trade, human smuggling, and controlling informal commerce.
  2. The Chamulans have a history of resistance and rebellion, and while some have been displaced, others within the community have formed a cartel, uniting to gain power through organized crime.
  3. The involvement of the Chamula Cartel in various criminal activities, including drug trade and human smuggling, has led to increased violence and controversial practices like the production of indigenous women and underage girl pornography.

California’s Homegrown Serial-Killing Sicario

CrashOut by Ioan Grillo • 471 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌐 International Organized Crime
  1. El Mano Negra, a California hitman, shares details of his narco hits and cartel operations in the United States
  2. Martinez, a prolific killer, operated for years without capture but finally faced trial and received multiple life sentences
  3. Martinez's motives for murder ranged from 'honor killings' to serving drug traffickers, highlighting the dark reality of cartel violence in the US

What Are Cartels?

CrashOut by Ioan Grillo • 707 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Organized Crime
  1. The term 'cartel' is commonly used to describe organized crime networks in Mexico, but it can be criticized for being inaccurate and misleading.
  2. Despite critiques, there is clear evidence of powerful criminal networks in Mexico unleashing violence and running various illegal activities.
  3. While there are debates about the terminology, 'cartel' remains a widely understood term to represent these organized crime groups, even though nuances in their structures and operations exist.
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America's First Drug Cartel Was Not Colombian or Mexican; It Was The Italian-Jewish Mob

CrashOut by Ioan Grillo • 766 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
💾 History Organized Crime
  1. America's first drug cartel was built by Italian-Jewish mobsters, not Colombian or Mexican cartels.
  2. The mobsters in the US were heavily involved in narcotics despite the glamorized image of mafia dons being focused on honor rather than drug trafficking.
  3. Homegrown criminals from Italian, Jewish, and Irish backgrounds set the foundation for drug trafficking in the US, paving the way for later cartels like Colombians and Mexicans.

Applied Math Versus Cartels

CrashOut by Ioan Grillo • 727 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Organized Crime
  1. Cartels in Mexico are one of the top employers with a large number of recruits that need to be replaced constantly to maintain their operations.
  2. Reducing cartel recruitment is crucial in lowering violence in Mexico and preventing youths from joining these criminal organizations.
  3. Mathematical modeling can provide insights into understanding and addressing the complex issue of organized crime in Mexico.

A loan offer you can’t refuse

Klement on Investing • 5 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
💼 Business Organized Crime
  1. When a company is downgraded to junk, bank loan availability falls sharply — about a 10% drop in the year after and roughly 30% cumulatively over five years.
  2. That sudden loss of bank financing pushes distressed CEOs and CFOs to seek alternatives, and the chance of mafia infiltration rises by roughly 5% after a downgrade.
  3. Financial distress is a key catalyst for organized‑crime infiltration because banks pull back when firms need money most, leaving a financing gap crime groups can exploit.