A staff member from U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6) embarked with the Peruvian Navy aboard the vessel BAP Río Putumayo II (PIAS 3104) in Iquitos, Peru, for a 30-day mission, November 19-December 19, along the Putumayo River, which forms the border between Peru and Colombia. U.S. Navy [ … ]
SOUTHCOM-Transferred Equipment Helps Fight Crime and Monitor Quarantined Areas in Jamaica
According to Lieutenant General Rocky Ricardo Meade, the most significant issues affecting Jamaica are organized criminal gangs, illicit trafficking, and associated violence. “The organized criminal gangs defending their turf will fight each other for influence […], illicit trafficking, and for the resources and funding from that,” said the Jamaica Defence [ … ]
571st MSAS Provides Key C-130 Training to Colombian Air Force
U.S. Air Force airmen from the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS) worked with the Colombian Armed Forces as part of a mobile training team from February 11 through March 11 at two air bases in Colombia. The team was comprised of 15 air advisors from the 571st MSAS at [ … ]
Female Commander Seizes a Ton of Cocaine
On her first day as commander of the Colombian Navy Pacific Naval Force’s Coastal Patrol Vessel ARC José María Palas (PM-103), Lieutenant Yerliza Rodríguez coordinated a maritime interdiction, on February 1, 2020. After receiving relevant intelligence, Lt. Rodríguez deployed an operation at the mouth of the Naya River, Valle del [ … ]
Guaidó Calls for Declaring Venezuela Source of Conflict Minerals
Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó continues to pressure the international community to include Venezuelan gold in the list of so-called “conflict minerals.” The president of the National Assembly, recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president of Venezuela, raised the problem of what he called “blood gold” during his [ … ]
Colombia Continues to Hinder Narcotrafficking
The efforts of the Armed Forces of Colombia to address all the emergencies and needs due to the coronavirus crisis have not curbed their drug interdiction operations. “Intelligence operations show that, at this time, while our units are also handling tasks related to COVID-19, there has been an increase in [ … ]
Northern Triangle Service Members Strengthen Fight Against COVID-19
The Northern Triangle’s armed forces have deployed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have land, sea, and air border surveillance perimeters to help enforce the lockdown, as they continue to support public security and fight illicit trafficking. “We conduct constant surveillance on 186 blind [ … ]
Venezuelan Regime Lines Its Pockets With Drug Money
For years, Venezuela has been strengthening narcotrafficking. The leader of the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, plays a decisive role in the process, not only because he is the second most powerful man in the regime, but also because he provides political and military protection to narco-terrorist crimes, [ … ]
US Charges Venezuelan Chief Justice with Corruption and Money Laundering
Maikel Moreno — the highest-ranking judge in Venezuela — was indicted on separate charges in Miami, Florida for money laundering and corruption on March 26, the same day that Nicolás Maduro and others in his regime were charged with narco-terrorism and other criminal charges. Moreno is believed to have doled [ … ]
First Woman to Command Uruguayan Army Unit
For the first time in the history of the Uruguayan Army, a woman is commanding a basic combat unit. On February 13, Lieutenant Colonel Lorena Cardozo took over as chief of the 8th Armored Cavalry Regiment, located in Cerro Largo department. Lt. Col. Cardozo’s promotion is a milestone for the [ … ]
Despite Coronavirus, Narcotrafficking Fight in Colombia Continues
More than 80,000 Colombian service members have been deployed throughout the country since mid-March to enforce the Iván Duque government’s measures to contain the coronavirus spread. Despite the coronavirus emergency, the Colombian Military Forces continue their relentless fight against narcotrafficking. "We’ve managed to capture 31 individuals, and this disrupts the [ … ]