National efforts against crime weaken criminal groups in Colombia. Units of the Colombian Armed Forces captured Juan Gabriel Villa, alias Gabino, leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN, in Spanish), and Jesús Alirio Téllez, alias Chunga, member of the organized armed group (GAO, in Spanish) Los Pelusos, on February 27, [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Encourages Female Participation in Peacekeeping Missions
The second edition of the Peacekeeping Operations Internship for Women affirms Brazil’s commitment to increase the number of female officers in international peacekeeping missions. Brazil takes part in operations with the United Nations (UN) to contribute to peaceful conflict resolutions in different regions since 1947. According to UN data, as [ … ]
Argentina Requests International Arrest Warrant for Chinese Vessel
The vessel fished illegally in Argentine waters and attempted to crash into an Argentine Naval Prefecture’s coast guard ship. In early March, the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA, in Spanish) chased a Chinese-flagged ship that fished illegally in Argentina’s southern Patagonia waters. The Chinese fishing boat managed to flee the scene, [ … ]
Ecuador and U.S. Military Work Together Again
The two countries’ air forces renewed information exchange on operations, logistics, and maintenance of Hercules C-130 and L-100-30 aircraft.The 11th Transport Wing of the Ecuadorean Air Force (FAE, in Spanish) welcomed a delegation of the U.S. Air Force and the Kentucky National Guard at Cotopaxi Air Base in Latacunga, January [ … ]
Colombia Curbs Maritime Narcotrafficking
The Colombian Navy seized semisubmersibles from a criminal ring. The Colombian Navy curbed the activities of a transnational criminal ring in Cauca department, in the Colombian Pacific coast, between January and February 2019. Units of the Navy’s Pacific Naval Force (FNP, in Spanish) led several joint operations that resulted in [ … ]
Peru Takes Part in 2019 Asia-Pacific Submarine Conference
The Peruvian Navy exchanged knowledge on maneuvers and technological advances to recover sunken submarines. Peruvian Navy Submarine Force officers took part in the 18th annual Asia-Pacific Submarine Conference at the invitation of the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The event was held February 12-15 in San Diego, California. The Peruvian [ … ]
U.S.-Colombia Combined Operations Deal Blow to Narcotrafficking
Authorities seized nearly 2 tons of cocaine in one day. In a combined U.S.-Colombia operation, authorities seized nearly 2 tons of cocaine in the Pacific coast of Colombia, curbing the operations of a transnational criminal organization. Two Colombian Navy operations, conducted with the support of the Colombian Air Force (FAC), [ … ]
US Troops Provide Medical Support to Honduran Communities
Western Honduran communities benefitted from humanitarian support from SOUTHCOM. More than 1,500 people from rural communities of Ocotepeque department, Honduras, which borders Guatemala and El Salvador, received humanitarian aid from a U.S. military medical mission. The villages of La Encarnación, San Fernando, and San Marcos benefitted from medical assistance and [ … ]
Colombian Special Commands Capture ELN Leader
His capture affects the ELN’s command and control system and disrupts terrorist attack plans in the country. Units of Colombia’s Joint Special Operations Command (CCOES, in Spanish) captured Arturo Ordóñez, alias Elefante, top leader of the National Liberation Army’s (ELN, in Spanish) Urban Front, on March 1, 2019, in Bogotá. [ … ]
Colombian Special Forces: Operational Success through Joint Work
The Colombian Military Forces’ Joint Special Operations Command focuses on high strategic value targets with the best operational and intelligence capabilities in the country. The Colombian Military Forces’ Joint Special Operations Command (CCOES, in Spanish) conducts operations under the motto, “Special people to complete special missions.” Army Major General Jorge [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Celebrates Marine Corps’ 211th Anniversary
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro led the ceremony attended by Major General Michael F. Fahey III, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South. The Brazilian Navy (MB in Portuguese) celebrated the 211th anniversary of the Marine Corps (CFN, in Portuguese) in a military ceremony at the historic São José da Ilha [ … ]
Maduro Uses Armed Groups to Repress Population
The Maduro regime backs paramilitary groups known as “colectivos” to confront protesters and violate human rights. In addition to the continuing humanitarian, social, and political turmoil in Venezuela, a power outage left most of the country in the dark for several days, affecting houses, hospitals, and the water supply, and [ … ]