The United Nations declared June 5 an international day for the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in late 2017. Yet, on the fourth observance of the annual awareness campaign, the global challenges continue to grow. About 3.3 billion people — nearly half of the world’s population — [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Costa Rica Dismantles Narcotrafficking Gang, Seizes 5.5 Tons of Drugs
Costa Rican authorities obtained important results in their fight against crime by dismantling a gang engaged in narcotrafficking in the south of the country, on April 6, 2021. During the operation, authorities carried out 25 raids, including of a 25-hectare property. Authorities detained 12 people, including the organization’s leader, González [ … ]
Colombian Forces Seize 3.4 Tons of Drugs in Two Operations
In early April, the Colombian Military Forces thwarted the activities of criminal gangs Jaime Martínez and Comandos de Frontera, dissident groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish), in two operations carried out in Valle del Cauca department and in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. On April [ … ]
Paraguay Destroys 346 Tons of Marijuana
In mid-April, Paraguay’s security forces dealt a severe blow to narcotrafficking in several operations, most taking place at the border with Brazil. Authorities destroyed nearly 346 tons of marijuana, including illegal crops and ready-to-consume drugs, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) said in several statements. On April 22, [ … ]
Panama, Determined in the Fight Against Narcotrafficking
Panamanian security forces continue to deal a heavy blow to narcotrafficking, delivering historic results. From March 15 to April 15, the Panamanian forces seized more than 5.5 tons of cocaine in several operations throughout the country. On April 15, the Panamanian National Border Service (SENAFRONT, in Spanish) announced in a [ … ]
Ecuador Seizes 4.5 Tons of Cocaine, Receives US Donation
During a combined operation between the Ecuadorian Navy and a P3C aircraft from U.S. Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), Ecuadorian Coast Guard agents found 950 kilograms of cocaine inside 813 packages floating 130 nautical miles (240 kilometers) off the coast of Manabí province, the Navy said on Twitter, April 12, [ … ]
Paraguay, Brazil Destroy Nearly 2,000 Tons of Marijuana in 15 Days
The Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) and the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) destroyed nearly 2,000 tons of marijuana during the two-week long Operation New Alliance XXV (Operación Nueva Alianza XXV), carried out in the Pedro Juan Caballero region, and ending on March 31, 2021. “[Agents] eradicated [ … ]
4th Fleet Commander Conducts Maritime Staff Talks with Brazilian Navy
Rear Admiral Don Gabrielson, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT), hosted delegates from the Brazilian Navy for the 15th annual Maritime Staff Talks (MST), May 5. Annual MSTs support the U.S. maritime strategy, “Advantage at Sea,” by building and strengthening working relationships between U.S. and respective [ … ]
Uruguay: Blow to Narcotrafficking with the Seizure of 1.5 Tons of Cocaine
In two operations, the Uruguayan security forces prevented the shipment of more than 1.5 tons of cocaine and dismantled a criminal gang that engaged in narcotrafficking in various parts of the country. On March 29, Uruguayan Minister of the Interior Jorge Larrañaga announced the results of Operation Arab (Operación Árabe), [ … ]
US Announces Increased Assistance for the People of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras
On April 26, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the United States is providing $310 million in increased assistance to the Northern Triangle, including $255 million in assistance to meet immediate and urgent humanitarian needs for people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; refugees; other displaced people; and vulnerable [ … ]
Argentina Seizes More than 12 Tons of Drugs in 2 Weeks
Argentine security forces seized 12,640 kilograms of marijuana in several operations. The Argentine National Gendarmerie (GNA, in Spanish) reported the seizure of 3,470 kg of marijuana that criminals transported in a truck and hid in sawdust, on April 1, 2021. The operation took place in Corrientes province, where service members [ … ]
Paraguay’s Most Wanted Narcotrafficker Arrested in Brazil
The Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese), in cooperation with the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Portuguese), arrested Jorge Teófilo Samudio González, Paraguay’s most wanted narcotrafficker. PF agents caught Samuldio González, known as Samura, on March 29, 2021, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. [caption id="attachment_46424" align="aligncenter" width="330"] [ … ]