Panamanian security forces continue to deal a heavy blow to narcotrafficking, delivering historic results. From March 15 to April 15, the Panamanian forces seized more than 5.5 tons of cocaine in several operations throughout the country. On April 15, the Panamanian National Border Service (SENAFRONT, in Spanish) announced in a [ … ]
Ecuador Seizes 4.5 Tons of Cocaine, Receives US Donation
During a combined operation between the Ecuadorian Navy and a P3C aircraft from U.S. Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), Ecuadorian Coast Guard agents found 950 kilograms of cocaine inside 813 packages floating 130 nautical miles (240 kilometers) off the coast of Manabí province, the Navy said on Twitter, April 12, [ … ]
Paraguay, Brazil Destroy Nearly 2,000 Tons of Marijuana in 15 Days
The Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) and the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) destroyed nearly 2,000 tons of marijuana during the two-week long Operation New Alliance XXV (Operación Nueva Alianza XXV), carried out in the Pedro Juan Caballero region, and ending on March 31, 2021. “[Agents] eradicated [ … ]
DLA, SOUTHCOM partnership Provides Humanitarian Support for COVID-19 Relief
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) partnered with U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to deliver $1.3 million worth of life-saving pharmaceuticals to the Paraguayan Ministry of Health for urgent treatment of intensive care patients with COVID-19. DLA Troop Support’s Medical directorate received a request for support March 17 [ … ]
Executing the US Colombia Action Plan Safely in the COVID-19 Environment
The U.S.-Colombia Action Plan (USCAP) will resume training in May 2021. USCAP training halted when the stakeholder nations’ implemented COVID-19 mitigation strategies to protect their populations. The combination of the threat to human health posed by COVID-19 and the implementation of mitigation strategies created a non-permissive environment for training. The [ … ]
COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment Arrives in Chile
The U.S. Air Force coordinated the transport of a donation of more than 87,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, which the U.S. non-profit, nongovernmental organization (NGO) Project Hope sent to Chile to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This NGO offers assistance to respond to different emergency situations worldwide, through medical, educational, [ … ]
4th Fleet Commander Conducts Maritime Staff Talks with Brazilian Navy
Rear Admiral Don Gabrielson, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT), hosted delegates from the Brazilian Navy for the 15th annual Maritime Staff Talks (MST), May 5. Annual MSTs support the U.S. maritime strategy, “Advantage at Sea,” by building and strengthening working relationships between U.S. and respective [ … ]
Canadian Military Advisor Discusses Importance of SOUTHCOM’s Liaison Officer Program
A native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, Lieutenant Colonel Ghislain Rancourt joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1982. As an air navigator, Lt. Col. Rancourt has over 3,800 hours flying on the CP 140 Aurora and CC 130 Hercules aircraft, with two deployments to Afghanistan. During his second tour, he [ … ]
Honduran Air Force Commander Inducted into WHINSEC Hall of Fame
“WHINSEC has marked my life. It has taught me a lot, and I have put into practice what I was taught here,” said Brigadier General Javier René Barrientos Alvarado, Honduran Air Force commanding general, as he expressed his gratitude for his induction into the Hall of Fame of the Western [ … ]
US Delivers More Ventilators to Ecuador
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador delivered eight ventilators, valued at $135,200, to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health on April 29, 2021. The Hamilton-T1 Gray equipment will support the medical care given to COVID-19 patients at the Enrique Garcés, Eugenio Espejo, and Pablo Arturo Suárez hospitals, all located in Quito, [ … ]
Uruguay: Blow to Narcotrafficking with the Seizure of 1.5 Tons of Cocaine
In two operations, the Uruguayan security forces prevented the shipment of more than 1.5 tons of cocaine and dismantled a criminal gang that engaged in narcotrafficking in various parts of the country. On March 29, Uruguayan Minister of the Interior Jorge Larrañaga announced the results of Operation Arab (Operación Árabe), [ … ]
US Announces Increased Assistance for the People of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
On April 26, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the United States is providing $310 million in increased assistance to the Northern Triangle, including $255 million in assistance to meet immediate and urgent humanitarian needs for people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; refugees; other displaced people; and vulnerable [ … ]