In just five days, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) took more than 13 tons of marijuana out of circulation. On September 30, 2021, agents arrested two Brazilians and two Paraguayans as they were negotiating the delivery of 1,198 kilograms of marijuana. Authorities caught the individuals inside two [ … ]
Ecuador Prevents Distribution of More than 12 Tons of Cocaine
Ecuadorian security forces seized 12,772 kilograms of cocaine in 10 operations conducted October 2-17, 2021. Five of these shipments were inside containers bound for Europe and Asia. On October 17, the Ecuadorian Police confirmed that they had carried out two operations in the Port of Guayaquil, in Guayas province. In [ … ]
Argentina: Gendarmerie Seizes Two Narco-Aircraft
In two consecutive operations, the Argentine National Gendarmerie seized two narco-aircraft. In the first operation, on September 29, 2021, the gendarmes seized a twin-engine aircraft with a Uruguayan tail number from a hangar in the Argentine city of Concordia, Entre Ríos province. The seizure was made possible thanks to information [ … ]
Argentina Enhances Response Against Cyberattacks
The Argentine Armed Forces strengthened their knowledge in denial of service, antivirus neutralization, and confidential data propagation, during the Cyber Dawg 2021 exercise that took place in the United States in late September. Some 20 U.S. state organizations, members of the Georgia National Guard, and Argentine service members — united [ … ]
Austin Emphasizes Importance of Working with Partners in Central, South America
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III delivered remarks on October 29, during a change of command ceremony where U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson assumed duties as commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) from U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller at SOUTHCOM headquarters in Doral, Florida. The COVID-19 [ … ]
Operation Integrated Borders I: A New Joint Interagency Operation
Operation Integrated Borders I was carried out September 13-October 3, 2021, resulting in the arrest of 2,975 people and the seizure of more than 55.8 tons of drugs. The Integrated Operations Center of the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat coordinated the operation with the participation of security forces from the [ … ]
Navies of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico Strengthen Natural Disaster Response
The navies of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico carried out exercise SOLIDAREX II, October 7-24, to assess and strengthen their response capabilities in the event of natural disasters. The forces conducted the exercise in three phases on the Pacific coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Thousands of service members, as [ … ]
Paraguay, Brazil Conduct Combined Operation against PCC
On October 3, 2021, agents of the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) and the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) captured four leaders of the criminal organization First Capital Command (PCC, in Portuguese). The captures were made during the combined operation Secure Border (Operación Frontera Segura) 3, which [ … ]
Dominican Republic Air Force Welcomes First Female Pilot at the Command of Combat Squadron
Lieutenant Colonel Pilot María Tejada Quintana, age 38, has set a milestone in her country’s aviation history by becoming the first female pilot to lead the Dominican Air Force Combat Squadron. Diálogo spoke with Lt. Col. Tejada about her achievements in her country’s aviation history. Diálogo: What does it mean [ … ]
Chinese Investors Vie for Lithium Mines in Argentina
The Zijin Mining company, one of the largest copper and gold producers in China, will acquire in full the Canadian company Neo Lithium Corp., which exploits lithium in Tres Quebradas, in the Argentine province of Catamarca, for $770 million, both companies said in a mid-October statement. In September, two other [ … ]
Authorities Capture Alias Otoniel, the Most Wanted Narcotrafficker in Colombia
Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias Otoniel, head of the Clan del Golfo, was arrested in Necoclí, Antioquia, on October 23, 2021, in a joint operation carried out by the Colombian National Police and the Colombian Armed Forces, the Colombian Military Forces’ General Command said in a statement. His capture “is the [ … ]
Colombia Captures Alias El Loco from the Los Flacos Narcotrafficking Group
The Colombian National Police (PNC, in Spanish) reported the capture of Alexander Serna Giraldo, alias El Loco, who had the capacity to traffic 10 tons of drugs abroad, on October 11, 2021, in Cali, Valle del Cauca department, the Ministry of Defense said via Twitter. The criminal, whom Colombian authorities [ … ]