Peruvian Army Colonel Rodríguez: We need to Think Multinationally
Special operations, military education, and years of working with forces from different countries have given Peruvian Army Colonel José Luis Rodríguez Gonzáles a broad perspective on an increasingly important challenge for the region’s militaries: how to bring different experiences, capabilities, and doctrines together into a force capable of working toward a common purpose. Director of the Peruvian Army Commando School,…
Costa Rica Faces Increasingly Diversified Illicit Arms Market
The capture of Alejandro Arias Monge, alias Diablo, considered Costa Rica’s most wanted fugitive, exposed the growing firepower and technological capabilities of criminal organizations, British broadcaster BBC News reported. The operation ended a decade on the run after a nearly 50-minute firefight that left eight agents wounded, Infobae reported. Security forces carried out the operation on July 24, 2026, in…
International Cooperation Strengthens Counterdrug Response in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Sea’s growing role in cocaine trafficking routes oused by transnational criminal organizations highlights the need to move beyond isolated national responses toward a multinational strategy that integrates military, air and maritime, intelligence, and law enforcement capabilities. The challenge is compounded by persistently high levels of coca cultivation in Colombia. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and…
Chile Strengthens Port Controls as China’s Fishing Fleet Expands Logistics Network
Amid growing international scrutiny of China’s distant-water fishing fleet over allegations of illegal fishing, forced labor, and concerns about its implications for maritime security, Chilean authorities have stepped up inspections of foreign fishing vessels arriving at the country’s ports following a sharp increase in requests from Chinese-flagged ships to call there. One such operation took place in June 2026 and…
Following the Money: Guatemala Joins Hemispheric Push Against Organized Crime Finances
The fight against transnational organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean is entering a new phase. Beyond capturing kingpins or seizing drugs, governments are increasingly focusing their efforts on identifying, tracing, and dismantling the financial structures that sustain criminal organizations. That shift was reflected in Guatemala with the September entry into force of the Comprehensive Law for the Prevention…
Cryptocurrencies and Organized Crime: The New Front in Latin America’s Financial Fight
Created to enable fast digital transactions without traditional intermediaries, cryptocurrencies have become an increasingly popular tool for criminal organizations to move funds globally through complex digital financial architectures, making it ever more difficult for authorities to trace illicit money. Innovation has also reached cryptocurrency mining, the process by which specialized computer systems validate transactions on certain blockchains — the decentralized…
Ecuador Tightens Regional Net Around Transnational Organized Crime
The capture in Colombia of Ronald Javier Macías Villamar, alias Javi, an alleged leader of the Los Choneros terrorist organization, demonstrated the operational reach of Ecuador’s cooperation with its regional partners against transnational organized crime. The intelligence sharing that led authorities to locate him in Bogotá is part of a series of bilateral and regional mechanisms through which Ecuador seeks…
Colonel Verón: Interoperability and Trust to Confront Common Threats
From infantry and jungle operations to military education and the command of special operations forces, Argentine Army Colonel Eduardo César Verón Rodríguez has spent decades serving in some of the military’s most demanding roles. Today, as commander of the Argentine Armed Forces Joint Special Operations Command (CCOE), that experience comes together in one mission: preparing forces to operate jointly and…
China’s AI Expansion in Latin America: Security Risks
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key instrument of China’s strategic projection in Latin America. Beyond expanding AI applications, Beijing is seeking to expand its presence in the infrastructure that supports them, including data centers, cloud services, and telecommunications networks. The concern is that its growing control over these assets could strengthen China’s intelligence and defense capabilities, expand its influence…
Terrorist Designations Increase Pressure on Criminal Networks in Ecuador
Ecuador and the United States continue to expand the tools available to confront transnational criminal organizations and the networks that sustain their operations within and beyond the country. As authorities intensify actions against these organizations, new terrorist designations are strengthening the legal and financial tools available to target their resources and support networks. Among them are the U.S. designations of…
Brazil, US Strengthen Fight Against Transnational Crime Through Intelligence Sharing
Transnational organized crime networks increasingly operate through logistics, financial, and commercial chains that span multiple countries and jurisdictions. In response, Brazil and the United States, which have a long-standing partnership in the fight against transnational crime, have deepened intelligence sharing, risk analysis, and operational coordination to anticipate threats and strengthen their ability to respond across borders. As part of these…
Guatemala, US Elite Forces Partnership Strengthens Fight Against Transnational Crime
As transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) become increasingly sophisticated, Guatemala continues to strengthen its special operations capabilities through sustained cooperation with U.S. special operations forces. That strategic partnership was demonstrated during a March 2026 exercise in Poptún, Petén Department, where U.S. Army Green Berets assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) trained alongside personnel from the Guatemalan Army’s Naval Special…
