Jamaica’s security forces continue to deal a blow to narcotrafficking, despite the difficulties from COVID-19. In just three operations conducted between May and June, the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF) and the Police seized more than 6 metric tons of marijuana. According to Jamaican newspaper Loop Jamaica, one of the seizures [ … ]
Transnational Threats
Brazilian Border Surveillance Program Affects Criminal Organizations
In June 2020, Brazil broke records in drug seizures thanks to one of its main border surveillance operations, Operation Horus. Security agents and service members in different areas of the country prevented over 121 metric tons of different types of narcotics from circulating. [caption id="attachment_38822" align="alignright" width="339"] Cigarettes and weapons [ … ]
Colombian Military Forces Deal Triple Blow to ELN
The Colombian Military Forces’ General Command (CGFM, in Spanish) reported the seizure of war material and the destruction of illicit drug labs and illegal mining units, all property of the National Liberation Army (ELN, in Spanish) guerrilla group, in three Colombian departments, between July 13-23. [caption id="attachment_38807" align="alignright" width="300"] Troops [ … ]
Destruction of Venezuelan Jungle Continues Due to Illicit Activities
The destruction of tropical rainforests in Venezuela continues due to illegal mining. Venezuelan criminal groups, paramilitary groups, and Colombian guerrillas, have destroyed close to 2,821 square kilometers of forests under the protection of the Nicolás Maduro regime, according to the report Illegal Mining in Venezuela: Death and Devastation in the [ … ]
Peruvian Police Seizes Nearly 1.5 Tons of Cocaine
On June 19, the Peruvian National Police Anti-narcotics Special Operations Division seized 1,466 kilograms of cocaine in La Convención province, in Cusco, and arrested 15 people who carried the drug in backpacks to the Urubamba River valley to be shipped via air, the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior reported. “Intelligence [ … ]
Trump: ‘We’re going to be fighting for Venezuela. We’re going to be fighting for our friends from Cuba’
U.S. President Donald Trump visited the headquarters of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Doral, Florida, on July 10. “We’re going to be fighting for Venezuela. We’re going to be fighting for our friends from Cuba. They know that we’ve been doing that, and in so many other places. But Cuba [ … ]
US Warns Iran Could Buy Weapons to Sell to Venezuela
U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams warned on July 10 that Iran might be purchasing weapons from Russia or China to sell them to the Nicolás Maduro regime. “Iran […] might, in theory, buy or sell from Russia or China and then sell them to Venezuela at a higher [ … ]
Ecuador Deals Blow to Narcotrafficking with Colombian, US Support
The Ecuadorean Navy (AE, in Spanish) and the National Police (PNE, in Spanish) work relentlessly to counter narcotrafficking and related crimes. This is reflected in the seizures of nearly 3 metric tons of cocaine June 23-27, with the cooperation of Colombia and the United States. “It is true that the [ … ]
Pompeo Says Venezuelans, Not US, Will Restore Peace in Venezuela
The United States seeks to restore democracy in Venezuela, but it will be the Venezuelan people who will “ultimately” do it, top U.S. diplomat Mike Pompeo said on July 9. During a press conference with international media, Pompeo said that the Donald Trump administration will continue to do “all we [ … ]
Bolivia Scores Great Success Against Illicit Drug Trafficking in the Last 7 Months
The Bolivian Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN, in Spanish) seized, eradicated, and destroyed more than 374 metric tons of drugs in the last seven months. From November 13, 2019, to June 22, 2020, agents carried out operations that resulted in the seizure of 8,043 kilograms of cocaine and [ … ]
Maduro Steps Up Corruption, Human Rights Violations
The illegitimate Nicolás Maduro regime continues to undermine both human rights and democracy in Venezuela. Enforced disappearances of Venezuelan civilians by the regime are on the rise, according to a report by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group and Foro Penal, a Venezuelan human rights organization. The regime has [ … ]
Chilean Police Disrupts Gang Smuggling Drugs from Peru
Chile’s Investigations Police (PDI, in Spanish) dismantled a criminal organization that smuggled cocaine from Tacna, Peru, using specially modified vehicles. The ring disassembled the vehicles and removed the drugs at a car repair shop in the Chilean city of Arica. Then, they would hide the drugs in countainers from a Peruvian [ … ]