The Chinese Communist Party of China (CCP) and Brazil’s Workers Party (PT) have committed to deepen ties of friendship and strengthen cooperation. The agreement came to be during A CCP delegation’s visit to Brazil in September 2023, during which time both parties pledged to “uphold the principles of independence and [ … ]
News
SOUTHCOM Commander, US Delegation Visit Stresses Commitment to Ecuador’s Security
U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), was part of a U.S. delegation that visited Ecuador, January 22-26, to explore with Ecuadorian counterparts ways to work together more effectively to counter the threat posed by transnational criminal organizations. During its week-long visit, the delegation, led [ … ]
Haiti Homicides Doubled in 2023 UN Warns
Nearly 5,000 homicides were accounted for in Haiti in 2023, more than in 2022, a January 23 United Nations (U.N.) report said, as the country experiences rampant gang violence amid the collapse of many of its political institutions. “I am appalled by the staggering and increasing level of gang violence [ … ]
Death Looms over Chinese Fishing Fleets
Chinese fishing fleets are notoriously unforgiving workplaces, where appalling sanitary conditions, poor food, and the absence of medical care cause workers to suffer illnesses and in some cases die, an investigation by The Outlaw Ocean Project (OOP), a journalistic organization dedicated to investigating conflicts over human rights, labor, and environmental [ … ]
Latin American Governments Must be Prepared for Iran-Backed Terrorism Threat
The Israel-Hamas conflict exposed complex connections between Iranian-backed influence, illegal trade, money laundering, and propaganda, intertwined with global drug trafficking. Now more than ever, Latin American governments should rethink the threats of terrorism on their soil, a report from Global Americans, a U.S. think tank focused on democracy and human [ … ]
Ecuador Boosts Drug Seizures and Destruction in 2023
For the third consecutive year, Ecuador has seized more than 200 tons of drugs, the National Police’s Anti-Drug Investigation Directorate indicated. The amount seized makes it the third country in the hemisphere to seize the most drugs, behind only Colombia and the United States, Ecuadorian daily Primicias reported. In recent [ … ]
Countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Vow to Combat Transnational Crime
Senior representatives of countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACTO) drew up an ambitious plan for the Amazon region in favor of sustainable development, health, and the fight against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that exploit the forest for their gain. Among their latest resolutions, approved during the XIV Meeting of [ … ]
Maduro Stick to His Guns on Essequibo Claim
Following the consultative referendum of December 3, the Nicolás Maduro regime is moving forward with its claim over the Essequibo region that belongs to neighbor Guyana. On January 13, the National Assembly began a second discussion on the Organic Law for the Defense of the Guayana Esequiba, which provides for [ … ]
Jamaica Defence Force and DC National Guard Mark 25-Year State Partnership and Focus on NCO Development
As a global destination, Jamaica is known for its culture, vibrant beaches, and robust tourism industry. It’s also a nation making investments to its national defense and strengthening security in the Caribbean basin, which entails placing the role of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) under a microscope. “A primary security goal is [ … ]
Fentanyl Boom Fails to Lower Cocaine Demand
Although global fentanyl production represents lower manufacturing costs and increasing demand, Colombia continues to be considered one of the world’s largest exporters of cocaine, and demand continues to grow and enter new markets. “What you see globally in terms of demand for cocaine is that it continues to grow despite [ … ]
Coca Cultivation Increases in Central America
Drug trafficking is being restructured worldwide, with a significant increase in coca cultivation in Guatemala and Honduras, the recent report Narcofiles: The New Criminal Order by investigative journalism organization the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) indicated. “This evolution has been driven by several factors, especially the fragmentation of [ … ]
Colombia Seizes 24 Semisubmersibles in 2023
In 2023, as of December 20, the Colombian Navy seized 24 semisubmersibles in the Colombian Pacific in compliance with the Ayacucho Joint Strategic Campaign Plan, the military plan that supports the government’s “Total Peace” efforts. Drug traffickers use semisubmersibles to transport illicit drugs due to their capacity to carry large [ … ]