This chapter presents an analysis of the emergence of new illegal economic activities within protected areas, such as deforestation, illegal resource extraction, and their ecological and social consequences, as criminal groups expand their operations. This chapter analyses the “new” economic and illegal activities that criminal groups operate within and near protected areas. The study of these activities is important to understand the adaptation of criminal groups to “new” economic markets as a strategy for diversification of activities, survival, and permanence even against government efforts to combat these criminal groups in the country.