After a more than two-year operation, Colombia and Ecuador dismantled transnational narcotrafficking organization Los Curva, following the January 6 capture in Colombia of two brothers identified as the leaders of the gang, Argentine news site Infobae reported. According to Operation Gran Fénix, carried out by Ecuador’s National Police, Navy, and [ … ]
News
Chinese Fishing Fleet under the Limelight in Latin American Waters
The massive presence of the Chinese fishing fleet in the waters of Latin America has contributed to making China one of the world’s leading seafood exporters, but also the worst when it comes to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The situation took a turn in late 2023 as Chinese [ … ]
Regional Collaboration Assists with Large Marijuana Seizure by Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Cooperation between regional allies and partners resulted in the arrest of four men smuggling nearly 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of marijuana in the Bahamas. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), and the United States collaborated to apprehend the high-speed vessel near Ragged Island in [ … ]
Operation Ignis Deals Blow to Organized Crime in Paraguay
Paraguay’s military and security forces dismantled a criminal group in the northern department of Canindeyú, a red zone for drug and arms trafficking along the border with Brazil, Paraguay’s National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) indicated in a press release. The actions were part of Operation Ignis, which ended on December 27. [ … ]
Tradewinds 24 Main Planning Conference Begins
The main planning conference (MPC) for Tradewinds 24 (TW24) was carried out in Bridgetown, Barbados, marking the continuation of detailed preparations for one of the largest multinational military exercises in the Caribbean. The MPC, which convened on January 29, brought together key stakeholders from various nations to strategize and coordinate [ … ]
SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Panama for High-Level Security Dialogue, Visits Darién
The commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, visited Panama January 31-February 2 as part of a U.S. delegation taking part in a High-Level Security Dialogue (HLSD) between Panama and the United States. During her stay, Gen. Richardson also met with Minister of Public Security Juan [ … ]
Brazil Beefs Up Border amid Venezuela-Guyana Tension
Seeking to increase its presence on its border with Venezuela and Guyana, and amid the escalating tension over the Essequibo, the Brazilian Army (EB) sent more troops to the north, keeping up with a strategic deployment initiated in early December. On January 13, some 14 Guaicurus armored vehicles, 18 other [ … ]
Russia’s Influence in the Essequibo Conflict
Nicolás Maduro’s revival of Venezuelan claims over two thirds of Guyana has placed this old dispute in the spotlight of South American geopolitics. More than a territorial disagreement, Maduro’s stance over the Essequibo threatens the security of the region, creating a potential risk of regional conflict. The shadow of Russia, [ … ]
Ecuador Wages War to Transnational Organized Crime
Ecuador has deployed its security forces to combat and dismantle transnational organized crime, as the country faces its most severe wave of violence due to narcotrafficking. The South America country has been under a state of emergency since January 9, declaring war on armed gangs and working on regaining control [ … ]
Russian Disinformation Advances in Latin America
Russian disinformation campaigns are spreading in Latin America, raising concerns about regional stability, and urging for a thorough evaluation of recent events that indicate a growing Russian presence in the information and geopolitical sphere, Spanish news site El Periódico reported. The Kremlin is leading efforts to exert influence in the [ … ]
The Threat of Foreign State Sponsored Cyberattacks in Brazil
In recent years, hacking into technological systems and databases hosted in a virtual environment has become an increasingly recurrent strategy to obtain confidential data. State sponsor actors are the leading cause of cyber concerns, with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea sponsoring 77 percent of all suspected operations worldwide since [ … ]
Peru Requests US Support to Combat Narcotrafficking
Peru has formally requested support from the United States to develop a plan to combat drug trafficking. The strategy would focus on reducing coca cultivation, cocaine production, and eventual export, while the country intensifies security measures at its borders. Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier González-Olaechea formalized the request in December 2023 [ … ]