Browsing: Caribbean

Illicit maritime networks operating across the Western Hemisphere are becoming increasingly sophisticated. No longer relying solely on isolated smuggling vessels or covert nighttime movements, sanctioned actors and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) now operate through complex maritime structures designed to obscure ownership, conceal cargo origins, and exploit legal and regulatory gaps across jurisdictions. These evolving networks — often referred to as…

Guatemala served as the epicenter of an ambitious regional effort, bringing together leaders from security forces, local authorities, experts, and representatives of civil society at the Latin American and Caribbean Forum on Democratic Security and Territorial Governance. The event, held in mid-February, marked the launch of the Latin American and Caribbean Group on Security and Democracy (GLACSED), a key initiative…

Senior military leaders from the French Republic, Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United States convened in Key West, Florida, April 28-29, 2026, to strengthen coordination against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) operating across the Western Hemisphere. The allied forces reaffirmed their commitment to expanding partnerships, improving information sharing, and enhancing operational cooperation to counter regional TCO and counternarcotics threats. The…

The recruitment of minors by armed gangs in Haiti has evolved into a key mechanism for sustaining territorial control and operational capacity. A February report by the United Nations (U.N.) indicates that this practice not only reinforces gangs’ presence in contested areas but also complicates security operations and weakens already fragile state authority. Javier Oliva Posadas, a researcher at the…

The Dominican Republic continues to increase counternarcotics operations success, playing an instrumental role as a regional leader in dismantling transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and fighting narcoterrorism within the Caribbean. Throughout the past year, the nation executed a series of highly effective and historically unprecedented operations targeting narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and associated illicit activities, consistently surpassing past benchmarks for operational…

The landscape of organized crime in Trinidad and Tobago took a decisive turn in 2025, as the nation launched an aggressive, technology-driven offensive against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). In this renewed effort, a high-stakes partnership with the United States was further consolidated as a fundamental pillar for achieving unprecedented results in maritime security and regional stability. A partnership for regional…