Drug trafficking to and from Venezuela increased by more than 50 percent under Nicolás Maduro, said the U.S. military leader for Caribbean, South and Central American affairs on November 14, when denouncing Maduro’s ties to organized crime. U.S. Navy Admiral Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said Maduro, in [ … ]
Transnational Threats
‘Take this Humanitarian Disaster in Venezuela Seriously’ Says Ambassador Brownfield
[caption id="attachment_31105" align="alignright" width="300"] File photo of William Brownfield. The Ambassador described the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela as “something never seen in history of this hemisphere.” (Photo: Brendan Smialowski, AFP)[/caption] U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield, remembered in Latin America for his clear and straightforward opinions in his more than 40 years [ … ]
When Authoritarian Governments Misuse Tech
It’s no secret that the People’s Republic of China uses the latest technology to monitor Chinese citizens at home and abroad — and does so with the express intention of maintaining the Chinese Communist Party’s power by punishing any behavior deemed subversive or dangerous. But what if other countries buy [ … ]
Valencia: An Example of Venezuela’s Industrial Deterioration
Rows of locked gates, rusty pieces of metal, and weeds growing in the backyards of factories mark the landscape of Valencia, a two-hour drive from the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. The country’s once industrial city is an example of the deterioration in business activities. The Venezuelan Industrial Confederation (Conindustria, in Spanish) [ … ]
Venezuela: Report Reveals Increase in Public Protests in October
“People’s discontent” in Venezuela incited 1,739 protests in October, according to a study from the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict (OVCS, in Spanish). The entity concluded that the “demand for economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights” is still connected to demands for employment and better public services, as well as [ … ]
Venezuela Ends 2019 with Higher Inequality
There’s been somewhat of a frenzy since late November on Río de Janeiro Avenue, in the Baruta municipality of Caracas, over the arrival of natural pine trees imported from Canada. The stores where these conifers, wreaths, and Christmas toys are sold have replaced other businesses that were forced to close [ … ]
Loyalty and Fear: The Link between the Military and Maduro Prevents Venezuela from Repeating What Occurred in Bolivia
After weeks of protests in Bolivia, service members of the Andean country changed their position and supported the protesters. William Kaliman, commander of the Bolivian Armed Forces, urged Evo Morales to step down to ensure peace in the country, leading to the president’s resignation on November 10. Bolivia’s events might [ … ]
El Salvador Conducts Rapid Response Operations Against Gangs
The Salvadoran Armed Force infiltrates urban areas affected by high murder and extortion rates, using drones and helicopters. The Salvadoran Armed Force (FAES, in Spanish) has deployed 10 task forces in the urban areas of the 22 municipalities most affected by violence, increasing the participation of soldiers, drones, and helicopters [ … ]
Corruption and Rivalry Among Venezuela’s Military
From narcotrafficking to smuggling and arms transfers, Venezuelan service members take advantage of their positions of power. The Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office announced on November 14 the decision to charge Bolivarian National Guard (GNB, in Spanish) Major General Aquiles Lapadula for his alleged participation in the misappropriation of 8,841 gallons [ … ]
Illegal Armed Groups Fight Over Border Control Between Venezuela and Colombia
At least 10 illegal armed groups from various political sectors are fighting for control of Venezuelan territory near the border with Colombia, reports from the Strategic Center for Homeland Security and Protection (CESPPA, in Spanish) — an institution of the Nicolás Maduro regime — indicate. In November 2018, CESPPA produced [ … ]
They Don’t Speak Spanish But Were Issued Venezuelan Passports, Colombia Claims
Among the biggest difficulties Venezuelan immigrants face is the lack of passports. The Colombian government, however, has detected with concern people who transit identifying themselves with legitimate Venezuelan passports, but who don’t even know what the capital of Venezuela is. In an interview with Venezuela 360, Christian Krugüer, director of [ … ]
Narcotrafficking Is Venezuela’s War Weapon in the Region, Experts Say
The tentacles of narcotrafficking in South America have reached into all sectors of society and in some cases, have defeated entire governments that now sponsor the activity and attempt to destabilize the region, analysts interviewed by Voice of America say. Martín Rodíl, a specialist in organized crime and narcotrafficking, says [ … ]