The Argentine National Gendarmerie (GNA, in Spanish) and Naval Prefecture (PNA, in Spanish) seized 11,643 kilograms of marijuana and 2,610 kg of coca leaf October 9-16, 2021. On October 22, the GNA confirmed seizing 397 kg of marijuana in a truck carrying wooden logs near Tapebicuá, Corrientes province. A drug [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Paraguay: Anti-drug Agents Seize More than 13 Tons of Marijuana in 5 Days
In just five days, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) took more than 13 tons of marijuana out of circulation. On September 30, 2021, agents arrested two Brazilians and two Paraguayans as they were negotiating the delivery of 1,198 kilograms of marijuana. Authorities caught the individuals inside two [ … ]
Ecuador Prevents Distribution of More than 12 Tons of Cocaine
Ecuadorian security forces seized 12,772 kilograms of cocaine in 10 operations conducted October 2-17, 2021. Five of these shipments were inside containers bound for Europe and Asia. On October 17, the Ecuadorian Police confirmed that they had carried out two operations in the Port of Guayaquil, in Guayas province. In [ … ]
Argentina: Gendarmerie Seizes Two Narco-Aircraft
In two consecutive operations, the Argentine National Gendarmerie seized two narco-aircraft. In the first operation, on September 29, 2021, the gendarmes seized a twin-engine aircraft with a Uruguayan tail number from a hangar in the Argentine city of Concordia, Entre Ríos province. The seizure was made possible thanks to information [ … ]
Authorities Capture Alias Otoniel, the Most Wanted Narcotrafficker in Colombia
Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias Otoniel, head of the Clan del Golfo, was arrested in Necoclí, Antioquia, on October 23, 2021, in a joint operation carried out by the Colombian National Police and the Colombian Armed Forces, the Colombian Military Forces’ General Command said in a statement. His capture “is the [ … ]
Colombia Captures Alias El Loco from the Los Flacos Narcotrafficking Group
The Colombian National Police (PNC, in Spanish) reported the capture of Alexander Serna Giraldo, alias El Loco, who had the capacity to traffic 10 tons of drugs abroad, on October 11, 2021, in Cali, Valle del Cauca department, the Ministry of Defense said via Twitter. The criminal, whom Colombian authorities [ … ]
US Strengthens Fight against Narcotrafficking in Panama
On September 20, 2021, the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation donated a maritime interdiction patrol boat to the Panamanian Ministry of Public Security (MINSEG, in Spanish) to strengthen the fight against narcotrafficking of the Panamanian National Air and Naval Service (SENAN, in Spanish) and the Regional Center for Aeronaval Operations [ … ]
Argentina Seizes 7.5 Tons of Marijuana, 2 Narco-aircraft
In five operations carried out September 21-October 3, 2021, the Argentine National Gendarmerie (GNA, in Spanish) and the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA, in Spanish) seized 7,589 kilograms of marijuana and two aircraft that a criminal organization was using to transport cocaine among Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. On October 3, in [ … ]
Uruguay Disrupts International Narcotrafficking Organization
In late September, intelligence exchange between Uruguayan, Paraguayan, and Argentinean authorities dealt a blow to an international narcotrafficking organization based in Uruguay. The criminal group engaged in the transport of cocaine base paste in narco-aircraft from Paraguay to Uruguay, for later shipment to Europe, the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior [ … ]
Colombia Neutralizes 10 FARC Dissidents
An air strike by special commandos of the Colombian Military Forces neutralized 10 dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish), in the Morichal municipality, Guainía department, near the border with Brazil, on September 27, 2021. “We dealt a tough blow to a leader, the second-in-command of [ … ]
China Threatens South American Oceans
A September 24, 2021 investigative feature published by the Associated Press (AP) and the Univisión network, whose team joined the research and patrol vessel Ocean Warrior of the Amsterdam-based environmental nongovernmental organization (NGO) Sea Shepherd Global, revealed that Chinese ships are increasing their presence in the Pacific waters off the [ … ]
The Caribbean Threat Environment: Reshaped by Climate Change and Great Power Competition
Fifty-two high ranking military, security forces personnel, and government officials from 10 nations gathered on October 14, 2021 for the first virtual Caribbean Region Information Operations Council (CRIOC) meeting under the theme “The Caribbean Threat Environment.” The William J. Perry Center co-hosted the event with U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. [ … ]