From the economic downturn forecasted by economists to the ongoing migration crisis of Venezuelan refugees and the wave of protests as citizens react to electoral fraud, grand corruption, and crippling austerity measures, the trends currently underway across our hemisphere indicate a period of challenges for democracies ahead. Recent polls from [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Mafia Hideout with $2.3 Million in Cash Found in Colombia
Colombian authorities seized cash equivalent to $2.3 million from narcotraffickers linked to dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, in Spanish) who did not join the peace process, the Office of the Attorney General reported on November 12. Authorities found the money in boxes and in “two buildings” [ … ]
Paraguay’s SENAD Seizes More than 10 Tons of Marijuana Bound for Argentina
On October 23, agents of the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD, in Spanish) intercepted a truck carrying 10,039 kilograms of marijuana hidden in 449 packages. [caption id="attachment_42398" align="alignleft" width="300"] The marijuana packaging had a logo with the letters P.C.F. The Paraguayan Office of the Attorney General is investigating its origin. [ … ]
Crashed Aircraft with 1.5 Tons of Cocaine Found in Guatemala
Guatemalan counternarcotics forces seized 1.5 tons of cocaine found in a crashed light airplane in the northern department of Petén, on the border with Mexico and Belize, the Office of the Attorney General (MP, in Spanish) reported on November 12. Authorities found the partially burned aircraft with several drug packages [ … ]
Colombia Seized More than 4 Tons of Cocaine and Destroyed 63 Labs
In the last two weeks of October, Colombian authorities seized 4.5 tons of drugs and dismantled 63 cocaine hydrochloride processing labs, in six operations carried out in different parts of the country. On October 28, the Colombian Navy reported seizing 2,085 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, 24 nautical miles northeast of [ … ]
More than 700 Members of Transnational Organized Crime Groups Arrested in Central America in US Assisted Operation
On November 27, senior law enforcement officials from the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras announced criminal charges in Central America against more than 700 members of transnational criminal organizations, primarily MS-13 and 18th Street gangs, which resulted from a one-week coordinated law enforcement action under Operation Regional Shield [ … ]
Nicaraguan Regime Keeps at Least 113 Political Prisoners
The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) denounced in an October 15 press release that the Daniel Ortega regime in Nicaragua keeps at least 113 political prisoners and continues to systematically violate human rights. “We receive complaints from civil society actors, which obligate us to alert regional [ … ]
Dominican Republic Seizes More than 2 Tons of Cocaine
A counternarcotics team of the Dominican National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD, in Spanish) and the Dominican Armed Forces seized more than 2 tons of cocaine in two operations. On November 7, troops of the Navy and the DNCD intercepted an artisanal vessel that was carrying 231 packages of cocaine off [ … ]
Colombian Forces Neutralize Alias Caín
On November 16, 2020, a 16-year criminal career came to an end for Emiliano Alcides Osorio, alias Caín, top leader of Los Caparros criminal group. Colombian authorities neutralized him after a confrontation in the town of La Unión, Tarazá municipality, Antioquia. The Colombian government was offering a $130,000 reward for [ … ]
Working with International Partners, US Coast Guard Offloads More than $411 Million Worth of Drugs
It doesn’t matter how many times you look at it: It’s always impressive to see 23,000 pounds of cocaine and nearly 8,800 pounds of marijuana. That’s the amount of drugs — with a street value of over $411 million, according to U.S. authorities — the crew of the U.S. Coast [ … ]
A Living Wage for Health Care Workers in Venezuela
Venezuela’s legitimate Interim President Juan Guaidó is helping doctors and nurses fight COVID-19 — and survive the pandemic themselves — by paying them a living wage. “It is the first time in history that funds recovered and protected against the dictatorship are used for the benefit of Venezuelans,” Guaidó said [ … ]
Costa Rica Seizes 2.9 Tons of Cocaine in Plantain Container
The Costa Rican Drug Control Police prevented the departure of a drug shipment hidden inside a plantain container in Moín, Limón province, on October 11, 2020. The shipment, which was bound for Antwerp, Belgium, totaled 2.9 tons of drugs, the Costa Rican newspaper AM Prensa reported. “Another blow to international [ … ]