Organized crime groups have surged in recent decades, aided by the rise of synthetic drugs, encrypted technologies, and multinational operations. For instance, a leading Brazilian mob has 60,000 affiliates spread across 26 countries in addition to its 40,000 members. Moreover, criminal actors are increasingly diversifying their operations, engaging in activities such as human smuggling, drug trafficking, and the exploitation of food supply chains. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, shows organized crime hot spots around the world, based on data from the Global Organized Crime Index. Methodology The Global Organized Crime Index analyzes 193 countries based on their scale of criminal activity. It includes three main components: Overall, countries were scored on a scale of 0 to 10 by the extent to which organized crime groups exert control over their direct economic activities. Where Organized Crime Groups Are the Most Powerful Below, we show the top 30 hubs for organized crime groups worldwide: Central and South America have the highest concentration of organized crime globally, with the most widespread criminal activity in Venezuela and Colombia. In particular, criminal actors are known for serious extortion practices, human smuggling, and illegal arms trafficking. The economic crisis in Venezuela, which has forced millions to flee, has contributed to the rise […]