Measures imposed by the Argentine government to stop the spread of the coronavirus, such as border closures and mandatory confinement, have affected organized crime networks operating in the region. However, there is evidence that transnational criminal groups are adapting. From late April to the first week of May, the Argentine [ … ]
Recent News
IAAFA Adapts During COVID-19, Continues International Professional Military Education via Distance Learning
In March 2020, when the United States started shelter-in-place orders due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA), which forges international friendship and security cooperation through education and training, coordinated for all of their international students to return to their home countries. Despite relocations, IAAFA began [ … ]
US, Peru Expand Space Data Sharing Partnership
U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) took another step in expanding its international space data sharing network — this time with Peru. Peruvian Air Force Major General Javier Tuesta Márquez, member of the Peruvian National Commission on Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA, in Spanish), and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Marcus A. Hitchcock, [ … ]
USS Pinckney Takes Down Drug Vessel, Seizes 70 Bales of Cocaine
The Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) team seized 1,400 kilograms of cocaine, May 14. A U.S. Navy maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), assigned to the “Tridents” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, first spotted the low profile vessel (LPV). Pinckney, [ … ]
Brazilian Service Members Combat COVID-19
The Brazilian Armed Forces are employing their logistics structure to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The work of service member has been crucial in fighting problems in the vast national territory with 8.5 million square kilometers. Ten joint commands, strategically activated across the country, carry out these operations. An example of [ … ]
Argentina: COVID-19 Tests Bought from China Present Problems
Argentina purchased 170,000 Chinese rapid test kits to monitor the spread of the novel coronavirus. A report by the COVID-19 Unit of the Argentine Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation concluded that the Chinese kits presented false readings, and only detect one of the two antibodies they were designed to [ … ]
SOUTHCOM, US Embassy Security Cooperation Office, Assist Honduras During COVID-19 Pandemic
Some 700 Honduran families are benefitting from humanitarian aid kits delivered by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to the National Risk Management System (SINAGER, in Spanish) of Honduras on May 8. These 700 hygiene kits contain soaps, toothpastes, brushes, sanitary napkins, toilet paper, and shampoo and were taken to prioritized sectors [ … ]
Guatemalan Army Seizes More than 3 Tons of Cocaine
The Guatemalan Army seized more than 3 tons of cocaine in several counter-drug operations conducted April 19-21. Two of the seizures originated in the Maracaibo region of Venezuela, where small aircraft departed on suspicious flights over the Caribbean Sea that ended up violating Guatemalan airspace. An April 21 counter-drug operation [ … ]
Brazilian Federal Police Seizes 650 Kilograms of Cocaine in Pernambuco
On April 22, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese), with the support of Pernambuco’s Military Police Battalion, seized 650 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the cargo compartment of an airplane. The drug was divided into several packages and bags. The operation resulted in the seizure of the aircraft, eight [ … ]
Colombia and Panama Strengthen Borders Against Drugs
The security forces of Colombia and Panama have increased surveillance operations along their borders in an effort to disrupt illicit drug trafficking. On April 22, in two multinational operations conducted in Panama with the United States and Colombia, authorities seized 2,193 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, worth $73 million. The Panamanian [ … ]
Panama Increases Drug Seizures, Despite COVID-19
Although a great part of the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN, in Spanish) and the National Border Service’s (SENAFRONT, in Spanish) personnel is committed to the COVID-19 Health Joint Task Force, which the Panamanian government created to respond to the coronavirus crisis, operations against transnational criminal organizations have not let up. During [ … ]
Argentine Navy Captures Chinese Vessel Fishing Illegally
Argentine Navy service members captured a Chinese ship that was fishing illegally in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), amid growing concern over predatory fishing in the South Atlantic. On May 5, the Offshore Patrol Vessel ARA Bouchard was conducting surveillance in Argentine maritime waters when it sighted the Chinese [ … ]