Protesters rallying against Cuba’s government on July 11 expressed a number of grievances, including the state of the country’s economy and the response to the coronavirus pandemic. “What we want is change,” Yamila Monte, a Cuban domestic worker told AFP. “I have had enough.” The protests were the largest against [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Growing Repression in Nicaragua Threatens Elections, UN Human Rights Chief Says
U.N. Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet warns that increasingly repressive measures by the Nicaraguan government against its political opponents are undermining prospects for free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections in November. Bachelet’s warning came as she submitted her report to the U.N. Human Rights Council on June 22. Nicaragua [ … ]
IACHR: Venezuela Among Countries Where Freedom of Expression Is Most Fragile
The deterioration of press freedom guarantees in Venezuela increased with the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, which means greater harassment of reporters during their coverage of vaccination days, and even for publishing data checks about the numbers of COVID-19 patients and deaths from the disease, said Pedro Vaca, special rapporteur [ … ]
A Historic Fight with Historic Results
Colombia has confronted the global problem of drugs throughout its history, as it became the main threat to public order, to the country’s political stability, to national security, and to the rule of law itself. For more than 40 years, the fight against this scourge has been relentless, and we [ … ]
Brazilian Navy Seizes More than 4 Tons of Hashish
A sailboat carrying hashish was intercepted more than 360 kilometers off the coast of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, by a Brazilian Navy (MB, in Portuguese) ship, on June 16, 2021. The interagency operation between the MB and the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) resulted in the seizure of more than [ … ]
Colombia, Brazil Prevent FARC Dissidents from Getting Drug Trafficking Money
The Colombian Navy, together with Brazilian authorities, strengthened their anti-narcotics operations in border areas, preventing criminal groups from receiving nearly $1.5 million in proceeds from the sale of drugs in Europe. Thanks to intelligence that the Colombian Navy provided to Brazil, anti-drug authorities raided a house on June 4, 2021, [ … ]
The Dangers of Potential Russian Counter-UAV Technology Exports to Latin America
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has proliferated globally, resulting in myriad uses, both military and civilian. With the steady rise in non-military uses comes the potential and dangers of this technology’s misuse. Presently, the Latin America (LATAM) region is home to major energy and extractive industries infrastructure, port, and [ … ]
Colombian Intelligence Operation Stops Distribution of 2.7 Million Drug Doses
Information that the Colombian Navy provided to U.S. and Panamanian authorities led to the execution of three international maritime operations and the seizure of 2,054 kilograms of narcotics in the Pacific Ocean. With this blow to criminal organizations, authorities prevented the distribution and consumption of 2.7 million doses of illicit [ … ]
US Southern Command Signs Partnership agreement with Global Fishing Watch
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on June 5 they have entered into an agreement with the international nonprofit organization, Global Fishing Watch (GFW) to help detect, deter, and identify illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Under formal collaboration with SOUTHCOM, GFW will provide public vessel tracking data and open maritime [ … ]
Colombian Authorities Capture Alias Soldado, Alleged Hitman for the Clan del Golfo
Colombian Army troops, in coordination with the Police and the Office of the Attorney General, captured alias Soldado, an alleged leader of hitmen for the criminal group Clan del Golfo’s Central Turbo subgroup. The arrest took place in Urabá, Antioquia. Alias Soldado, 38, had a criminal record of more than [ … ]
Iran and Venezuela: A Strategic Partnership
Colombian President Iván Duque raised eyebrows in August 2020 when claiming that the regime of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was seeking to acquire medium-to-long-range missiles from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The claim came within the context of increased Tehran-Caracas commercial cooperation in 2020, sending upward of 2.35 million barrels of [ … ]
Ending Illegal Fishing
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