REGIONAL NEWS - Dialogo forum Breaking News From South America the Caribbean

Military Assumes Security in Troubled Mexican Region

On May 16, a Mexican Army general was appointed head of security in Miochoacán, an area in western Mexico troubled by the emergence of armed groups that present themselves as self-defense groups.

Costa Rica Seizes 400 Kilos of Drugs at Nicaraguan Border

Costa Rican authorities seized a shipment of 406 kilos of cocaine hidden in a truck heading to Nicaragua, the Drug Control Police (PCD) reported.

FARC Peace Talks: Northern Ireland Could Hold Answers, Analysts Say

The May 15 resumption of peace talks in Cuba between Colombia’s government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels has sparked renewed optimism that a settlement to the 60-year-old armed conflict is within sight. But the road map to peace remains obscured by unanswered questions ...

The Fight against Drug Trafficking is a Fight for Democracy

When Mr. Mario Zamora took office as Costa Rica’s Minister of Public Security on May 1, 2011, he said that his goal was to restrain increased crime rates, as well as to reduce the level of violence exerted in crimes throughout the country.

Suriname Defense Ministry Boosts Spending, Cooperation with Pentagon

Suriname has announced the $2.4 million purchase of 75 armored and luxury vehicles for the nation’s army, police, customs and intelligence departments.

Uruguay Crime Rates Rising as Guns Proliferate in Once-Peaceful Nation

Uruguay, historically one of South America’s least violent countries, now averages one homicide per day, says Observatorio FundaPro, a security research organization based in Montevideo.

Four ELN Guerrillas Killed in Colombia

Four guerrillas from the National Liberation Army (ELN) were killed, and another one was captured during an armed confrontation that took place in a rural area of the department of Arauca, bordering Venezuela, the Colombian Army reported on May 15.

Colombian Police Will Pay for Videos and Photos Depicting Criminal Activity

The Colombian National Police Office for Citizen Security has created an email address to send videos and photographs showing criminal activity, such as the sale of drugs and theft against people, households, and commercial premises.

Ecuador Works With U.S. and Mexico to Foil Cocaine Smuggling Network

Authorities in Ecuador have thwarted a major cocaine producing and smuggling network that had links to Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, government officials said.

Action Targets Major Narcotics Trafficker who Operated on U.S. Border

On May 14, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the inclusion of Mexican national Alfredo Andrade Parra on the list of Foreign Narcotics Kingpins pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for his significant role in international narcotics trafficking and fo...

Confrontation in Colombia Leaves Six Dead

Five guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and a police officer were killed during armed confrontations and attacks in different regions of Colombia, just before the peace talks between this insurgency and the national government resumed in Havana, authorities reported...

Belize Plays a Major Role in Information Sharing in “Operation Martillo”

Almost 18 months after launch, “Operation Martillo” (Hammer”) has proven to be a big hit (no pun intended) if you ask the personnel involved in this huge effort to counter transnational organized crime in the waters of the Caribbean. Among these countries is Belize, which has been a key player wh...

Leader of Mexico’s Gulf Cartel Sentenced to 35 Years

Aureliano Cano Flores, one of Mexico’s notorious Gulf Cartel leaders, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for smuggling marijuana and cocaine into the United States, the Public Prosecutor reported on May 13.

Colombian Drug Trafficker Arrested in Venezuela

The alleged Colombian drug trafficker Giraldo de Jesús Escalante Villegas, alias ‘Escalante’ and leader of the gang ‘Los Urabeños’, was arrested on May 10 in western Venezuela, Néstor Reverol, head of the National Anti-Drug Office (ONA), reported.

Demobilized FARC Member Reports a Factory that Produced Bombs

A factory that produced one thousand improvised explosive devices (IED) per month to be used by the narco-terrorist organization Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in terrorist attacks and mine planting, was seized in the rural municipality of Suárez in the department of Cauca, on May 10.

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzón: FARC Close to Collapse

Colombia’s longstanding conflict against FARC terrorists is beginning to look less like an all-out military conflict and more like a government crackdown on organized crime.

Nicaraguan “Retaining Wall” Keeps Drug Cartels at Bay

After his participation at the Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC 2013) in Panama City, on April 18, Army General Avilés Castillo met with Diálogo to discuss the vast exchange of cooperation and information between his country and the other nations in the region, as well as of the grea...

Colombian Authorities Destroy 5,000 Antipersonnel Mines from FARC

The Colombian Army reported on May 9 that 5,000 antipersonnel mines from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were seized and destroyed by in a rural area of Caquetá department.

Guatemalan Transport Workers Face Extortion, Death Threats, Says CNT

Organized criminals killed at least 1,000 bus drivers, cabbies, truckers and other transportation workers in Guatemala between 2006 and 2012, according to the country’s Coordinadora Nacional de Transporte (CNT) — making this line of work one of the most dangerous occupations in Guatemala today.

Panama’s SENAN Makes Record Cocaine Bust With U.S. Assistance

The go-fast boat moved swiftly through the Pacific waters just off Panama City, but it was quickly spotted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials aboard an aircraft that had been tracking the suspicious vessel.

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