My latest article for insight crime. On an Albanian businessman who smuggled tons of cocaine to Europe under the protection of some of Ecuador’s most powerful people in politics and law enforcement. 👇

Special Citation: "InSight Crime’s reporting and rigorous research have made it a resource for journalists, academics, civil society leaders, government officials and policymakers seeking to learn more about organized crime’s long tentacles." #CabotPrizes

Feeling good. Our little media org, which began with 4 of us some 15 years ago, was just honored by Columbia Journalism School for our coverage, commitment to LatAm journalism. Congrats to our team & my longtime partner “in crime” Jeremy McDermott

Great article from InSight Crime by @douwedenheld and Markus Espinoza! Albanian trafficker Dritan Gjika's #cocaine empire in Ecuador crumbles as 31 syndicate members are arrested and $51M in assets seized. Gjika remains on the run. #DrugTrafficking #OrganizedCrime

En media hora estaré en directo - hablando con steven dudley y otros colegas de InSight Crime sobre nuestra nueva investigación de Durán, Ecuador. ¡Únete a nosotros! youtube.com/live/q2bG_2HwP…

Deze week bespreken we in Zware Jongens met Douwe den Held het geweld in de Mexicaanse regio Sinaloa waar Marco Ebben mee zou vechten. Harry Lensink en Yelle Tieleman leggen me op de gril over mijn nieuwe boek Narco’s in Nederland. Luisteren dus! open.spotify.com/episode/09WQKk…

Op de biodiversiteitstop in Colombia, de grootste ooit, tekent zich een paradox af: de wereld erkent dat het cruciaal is om de natuur te beschermen, maar het nakomen van afspraken blijkt lastig. Vooral de financiering is een pijnpunt. Douwe den Held buff.ly/40CPncr

‘Carnival of Despair’ as Ecuadorians head to Polls Amidst security concerns, constitutional crises, and growing public doubts, the country holds first round of presidential elections LATEST for Pirate Wire Services by Douwe den Held and Anastasia Austin piratewireservices.com/p/carnival-of-…

How do you balance navigating real danger in #Colombia’s countryside & not getting sucked into the prejudices & anxieties that have accumulated over decades of civil conflict? Don't miss the the latest OffMap Media installment by Douwe den Held+Anastasia Austin👇offmap.media/p/colombias-co…