Argentina’s National Gendarmerie (GNA, in Spanish), Naval Prefecture (PNA, in Spanish), and Federal Police (PFA, in Spanish) seized 8,748 kilograms of marijuana in the border provinces of Formosa, Misiones, and Corrientes, in seven operations carried out between July 20 and August 10, 2021. On August 10, the PNA reported the [ … ]
Brazil Joins Group of Latin American Countries Providing Aid to Haiti
The tragedy experienced by Haitians has mobilized different countries around the world. Brazil, which led the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH, in French) for more than 10 years, is also part of the group of nations that has so far delivered more than 100 tons of supplies to [ … ]
Argentina Sends Humanitarian Aid to Haiti
An Argentine Air Force (FAA, in Spanish) Hercules C-130 aircraft departed for Haiti with a White Helmets contingent on August 21, 2021, following the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that left more than 2,000 dead. The White Helmets Commission is a body under the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs that provides international humanitarian [ … ]
Colombia Extradites ELN Members to the US
On August 19, 2021, the Colombian National Police (PNC, in Spanish) handed over two members of the National Liberation Army (ELN, in Spanish) to U.S. authorities to face narcoterrorism charges, the Colombian Ministry of Justice said in a statement. Henry Trigos, alias Moncho Picada, and Yamit Picón, alias Choncha, had [ … ]
‘Collaboration Warfare’
How SOUTHCOM is Re-Shaping Intelligence Security Cooperation in the AOR through Collaboration Warfare “We’re connected to the nations in Latin America and [the] Caribbean by history, culture, and geography. We’re connected in every domain, sea, air, space, and cyber and land. Our security and prosperity are inextricably linked. When our [ … ]
Brazilian Federal Police Seizes Nearly 4 Tons of Cocaine in Fishing Boats
The northern region of Santa Catarina state, in the south of Brazil, has the largest industrial fishing fleet in the country, with hundreds of vessels transiting daily to carry out fishing activities. However, criminal groups have been taking advantages of workers’ legal pursuits to try and conceal their illegal practices. [ … ]
Ecuadorian Police Deals Blow to Narcotrafficking in Guayaquil Port
In late July and early August, agents of the Ecuadorian National Police prevented the shipment of more than 4 tons of cocaine from the Guayaquil Maritime Port in two operations where authorities found the drug hidden among legal goods in containers bound for Europe. On August 2, authorities found 2,123 [ … ]
Colombia: 17 Clan del Golfo Members Captured
In late July, the Colombian Armed Forces weakened the criminal group Clan del Golfo with the capture of 17 of its members during Operation San Lucas, carried out in Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar department. Those captured belong to the substructure Héroes del Caribe, which engages in narcotrafficking, extortion, and selective [ … ]
Krishna Mathoera, Minister of Defense of Suriname: ‘Being a Woman Should Never Be an Obstacle to Be Successful or to Do the Extraordinary’
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Breaking Barriers podcast features in each episode guests from the Defense and Security forces of Latin America and the Caribbean. This platform shares powerful stories and valuable insights on gains being made to recognize women as equal partners in preventing [ … ]
Iran in Latin America: Malign Alliances, “Super Spreaders,” and Alternative Narratives
Executive Summary Iran’s ability to shape the information environment and spread the narrative of the United States as an imperialist force—perpetrating violence and instability in Latin America—has grown in recent years. These ongoing and multifaceted campaigns of disinformation and care- fully curated messages are coordinated with Russian and Venezuelan state [ … ]
Women Break Paradigms at the Honduran Defense Ministry
MBA Heidi Carolina Portillo Lagos, undersecretary of State with the Honduran Office of National Defense, is the first woman in her country to hold this position. Diálogo spoke with Undersecretary Portillo about progress for gender equality and the topic of human rights within the Honduran Armed Forces, among others. Diálogo: [ … ]
Brazilian Ministry of Defense Launches Multi-satellite Antenna to Expand Surveillance in the Amazon
On July 22, 2021, the Brazilian Ministry of Defense launched a multi-satellite antenna to help combat deforestation and other environmental crimes in Brazil. With a diameter of 11.3 meters, the new antenna is capable of capturing images from satellites operated by Brazilians and other countries with which Brazil has acquisition [ … ]