The Ecuadorian National Police seized nearly 5 tons of drugs, in operations carried out December 9-13, 2020. On December 13, authorities seized 1 ton of marijuana in a nightclub in Manabí province, Ecuadorian Minister of Government Patricio Pazmiño said on his Twitter account. Officers arrested an individual, the Ecuadorian newspaper [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Brazil: Federal Police Conducts Historic Operation Against Narcotrafficking
In late November 2020, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) launched Operation Enterprise to dismantle a criminal group that was trafficking cocaine from Brazilian ports to countries in Latin America, Europe, and the Persian Gulf. During a two-year investigation, authorities seized more than 50 tons of cocaine linked to [ … ]
People to Late Wuhan Whistleblower: You Were Wronged
The physician in Wuhan, China, who sounded the alarm about a budding pandemic only to be rebuked by Chinese authorities, continued to elicit an outpouring of admiration as the one-year anniversary of his death approached. Dr. Li Wenliang died February 7, 2020, after contracting the illness he warned classmates about [ … ]
Chilean Navy Makes Largest Cocaine Seizure
In late November 2020, the Chilean Navy seized more than half a ton of cocaine in the country’s north, the largest cocaine seizure by sea in its history, the institution said in a statement. In addition to the seizure, the operation, carried out by the Iquique Maritime Police and the [ … ]
Colombian Army Captures 12 Members of FARC Dissident Group
On November 29, the Colombian Army reported the capture of 12 members of Estructura 48, a dissident group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish), in Putumayo department, bordering Ecuador. The detainees had infiltrated different companies, where they were in charge of obtaining supplies for the production [ … ]
Bolivia: Anti-drug Agents Destroy More Than 8 Tons of Marijuana
Bolivia’s Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN, in Spanish) destroyed more than 8 tons of marijuana and almost 344 kilograms of cocaine in different operations carried out between November and December 2020. On December 3, agents incinerated 343.8 kg of cocaine in La Paz department, including 276.9 kg of [ … ]
Paraguayan Security Forces Seize More Than 41 Tons of Marijuana
On November 20, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) announced the seizure of more than 41 tons of marijuana in an operation carried out in Canindeyú department. “An operational activity that SENAD personnel carried out [...] resulted in three simultaneous raids in forest areas of rural establishments, located [ … ]
Peru: National Police Seizes Nearly 1 Ton of Drugs in a Week
In just one week, the Peruvian National Police (PNP, in Spanish) seized more than 900 kilograms of cocaine and marijuana, in addition to 3 tons of chemical precursors. On November 28, officers arrested two individuals who were carrying 335 kg of cocaine in brick-type packages. Authorities found the suspects as [ … ]
Paraguay: SENAD Canines Detect Drugs in Creams, Toys, Bottles, Postcards
Thanks to its detection dogs, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) has discovered unusual methods to hide narcotics at the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, in the Asunción metropolitan area. On November 23, 2020, agents opened two mail parcels that were seized days prior, in order to discover the [ … ]
Brazilian Federal Police Seizes Record Cocaine Amount in Rio de Janeiro
The Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) seized nearly 2.5 tons of cocaine hydrochloride, on December 1, 2020, in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. According to the PF, this seizure was the largest ever conducted in the state and one of the largest in Brazil. The PF received information [ … ]
Paraguay: SENAD Destroys Marijuana Production Centers in Protected Forests
The Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) deployed operations to eradicate marijuana plantations and narco-camps in natural reserves. Agents carried out the first operation on December 2, in San Rafael Park, Itapúa department, where traffickers have been destroying the vegetation to plant cannabis crops. After venturing into wooded and [ … ]
Colombia Captures Semisubmersible Builders
The Colombian Military Forces’ General Command (CGFM, in Spanish) reported on November 12, 2020 that Army troops captured Leison Jiménez Mosquera, designer and developer of semisubmersibles for narcotrafficking. The operation took place in San Juan municipality, Chocó department. “Jiménez [is] accused of being a link between narcotraffickers and the National [ … ]