In November, the Peruvian government passed a decree ordering all foreign-flagged vessels operating in Peruvian waters to use an additional satellite device starting January 1, 2021. This will enable authorities to know the routes and movements of each vessel with greater precision. On October 18, Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Luis Gallego [ … ]
Recent News
Colombia Neutralizes 3 Criminal Leaders
The Colombian Military Forces General Command (CGFM, in Spanish) told the press on November 25, 2020, that the Army had neutralized Marco Tulio Salcedo, alias Duver, chief financial officer of the Miller Perdomo criminal group, in Solano municipality, Caquetá department. “This individual was allegedly [...] in charge of extortions and [ … ]
Nicaragua Boycotts Aid to Hurricane Victims
Daniel Ortega insists on controlling humanitarian aid in emergency situations. He recently blocked the actions of civil organizations to deliver medicine, clothing, and food aid to thousands of people affected by hurricanes Eta and Iota in Nicaragua, between November 3-16, 2020. “The Ortega regime has hidden information, has forsaken thousands [ … ]
DOD Rewards Program Continues Successful Operations in 2020
Despite a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Rewards Program in Colombia continued to be successful. In 2020, the program enabled Colombia’s security forces to conduct 14 operations against the narcoterrorist organizations of the Clan del Golfo, dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of [ … ]
Paraguay, Brazil Destroy Nearly 500 Tons of Marijuana
Members of the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) and the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) destroyed 494.6 tons of marijuana during Operation New Alliance (Operación Nueva Alianza) XXIII, which ended on November 13, 2020. With the support of two PF helicopters, SENAD agents operated in forest areas [ … ]
US Government Donates 2 Mobile Hospitals to Ecuador to Treat COVID-19 Patients
U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Michael J. Fitzpatrick and Consul General Brian S. Quigley, Jr. delivered two field hospitals, which U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) acquired for the Ecuadorean government. The official handover ceremonies were held on December 16, 2020, in Quito and Guayaquil, respectively. The donation, made on behalf of the [ … ]
Service Members Combat Illegal Activities in Brazil, at the Suriname and French Guiana Borders
Between October 22 and November 4, the Brazilian Armed Forces deployed 4,400 service members to combat transborder and environmental crimes in the states of Pará and Amapá, in the northern region of Brazil, at the Suriname and French Guiana borders. The entire area, on the eastern side of the Amazon, [ … ]
Brazilian States Conduct Internal Border Operation to Combat Organized Crime
In late October 2020, in addition to ongoing surveillance activities along Brazilian borders with 10 neighboring countries, Brazilian military and security forces turned their focus inward to internal boundaries among Brazilian states, regions that are known routes for organized crime to transport drugs, weapons, and other illegal merchandise that enter [ … ]
Brazil: Security Forces Seize 1 Ton of Cocaine on the Border with Bolivia
On October 24, 2020, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) seized 1,060 kilograms of Bolivian cocaine paste, in the Vale do Guaporé region, a municipality in Comodoro, Mato Grosso state. The drug was seized during an operation coordinated with the PF, the Mato Grosso Military Police, the Special Border [ … ]
Bolivia: Narcotics Agents Destroy Clandestine Airstrip, Mega Cocaine Lab
On October 30, Bolivia’s Special Force against Drug Trafficking (FELCN, in Spanish) seized 278 kilograms of cocaine base paste in two buildings in San Joaquín municipality, Beni department. “Authorities found a clandestine airstrip and a light aircraft,” Edwin Lobatón, commander of the FELCN’s Mobile Rural Patrol Unit, said in statements [ … ]
US Southern Command Unveils New Network Operations and Security Center
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has unveiled its newest warfighting asset, a $1.3 million Network Operations and Security Center (NOSC). The NOSC is designed to lead the command and control of network management and cybersecurity activities throughout the SOUTHCOM enterprise. In the perpetually contested domain of cyberspace, the NOSC will provide [ … ]
El Salvador Weakens MS-13, Barrio 18 Gangs
The Salvadoran authorities carried out simultaneous operations nationwide that resulted in the arrest of hundreds of gang members, on November 23-26, 2020. Among the detainees are 354 members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), 256 of Barrio 18, and 119 of other criminal groups. The criminals were arrested for homicide, extortion, rape, [ … ]