The Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) launched Operation White Sand (Operação Areia Branca), on December 2, 2020, to dismantle an international narcotrafficking and money laundering organization. Some 80 PF officers executed five arrest warrants and 19 search and seizure warrants in many cities in the states of Mato Grosso [ … ]
Recent News
Panama Seizes 6.5 Tons of Cocaine with Colombian, US Support
The Panamanian Air and Naval Service (SENAN, in Spanish) and Panamanian Ministry of Security seized 6.5 tons of cocaine in five operations carried out with Colombian and U.S. support, November 23-30, 2020. “We have strengthened our operations with the collaboration of Costa Rica, Colombia, and the United States. These countries [ … ]
Brazilian Security Forces Make Headway in Combating Brazil’s Largest Criminal Organization
To evade financial oversight, the First Capital Command (PCC, in Portuguese), Brazil’s main narcotrafficking organization, rents some properties to conceal money and arms. The criminals refer to these properties as safe houses. Most of them are in São Paulo and close to the city of Santos, where a main Brazilian [ … ]
Panama Seizes Nearly 4 Tons of Cocaine
The Panamanian Air and Naval Service (SENAN, in Spanish) seized 3,894 kilograms of cocaine in two operations with U.S. air support, on December 12, 2020. The first seizure took place south of Jicarón Island, in the Pacific Ocean. Authorities detained three men who were traveling in a light boat, with [ … ]
Ecuador Seizes Nearly 5 Tons of Drugs
The Ecuadorian National Police seized nearly 5 tons of drugs, in operations carried out December 9-13, 2020. On December 13, authorities seized 1 ton of marijuana in a nightclub in Manabí province, Ecuadorian Minister of Government Patricio Pazmiño said on his Twitter account. Officers arrested an individual, the Ecuadorian newspaper [ … ]
Brazil: Federal Police Conducts Historic Operation Against Narcotrafficking
In late November 2020, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) launched Operation Enterprise to dismantle a criminal group that was trafficking cocaine from Brazilian ports to countries in Latin America, Europe, and the Persian Gulf. During a two-year investigation, authorities seized more than 50 tons of cocaine linked to [ … ]
Chilean Navy Makes Largest Cocaine Seizure
In late November 2020, the Chilean Navy seized more than half a ton of cocaine in the country’s north, the largest cocaine seizure by sea in its history, the institution said in a statement. In addition to the seizure, the operation, carried out by the Iquique Maritime Police and the [ … ]
Colombian Army Captures 12 Members of FARC Dissident Group
On November 29, the Colombian Army reported the capture of 12 members of Estructura 48, a dissident group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish), in Putumayo department, bordering Ecuador. The detainees had infiltrated different companies, where they were in charge of obtaining supplies for the production [ … ]
Bolivia: Anti-drug Agents Destroy More Than 8 Tons of Marijuana
Bolivia’s Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN, in Spanish) destroyed more than 8 tons of marijuana and almost 344 kilograms of cocaine in different operations carried out between November and December 2020. On December 3, agents incinerated 343.8 kg of cocaine in La Paz department, including 276.9 kg of [ … ]
Paraguayan Security Forces Seize More Than 41 Tons of Marijuana
On November 20, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) announced the seizure of more than 41 tons of marijuana in an operation carried out in Canindeyú department. “An operational activity that SENAD personnel carried out [...] resulted in three simultaneous raids in forest areas of rural establishments, located [ … ]
Peru: National Police Seizes Nearly 1 Ton of Drugs in a Week
In just one week, the Peruvian National Police (PNP, in Spanish) seized more than 900 kilograms of cocaine and marijuana, in addition to 3 tons of chemical precursors. On November 28, officers arrested two individuals who were carrying 335 kg of cocaine in brick-type packages. Authorities found the suspects as [ … ]
Paraguay: SENAD Canines Detect Drugs in Creams, Toys, Bottles, Postcards
Thanks to its detection dogs, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) has discovered unusual methods to hide narcotics at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, in the Asunción metropolitan area. On November 23, 2020, agents opened two mail parcels that were seized days prior, in order to discover the [ … ]