Guatemala’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance and the Migration Institute received a donation from the U.S. government of 12 military field medical tents with a 16-people capacity, 142 folding cots, and two 30-kilowatt diesel generators. The donation totals $243,402.48, and was carried out by the United States Agency [ … ]
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Ecuador Dismantles Campsites of Colombian Criminal Groups
The Ecuadorean Armed Forces dismantled three paramilitary campsites near the border with Colombia and detected the presence of Colombian armed groups linked to narcotrafficking. The operations took place in Putumayo canton, between August 27 and 30, 2020. The Ecuadorean Army reported finding ammunition, vests, tactical backpacks, magazines, awnings, antipersonnel mines, [ … ]
Joint Task Force Bravo’s Headquarters Support Company Gives Back
U.S. service members from the Army Forces Battalion Headquarters Support Company (HSC) at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, delivered charitable donations to the Horizontes al Futuro Orphanage in Comayagua Honduras, on September 5. HSC is the sponsor for the Horizontes al Futuro Orphanage, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the [ … ]
Brazilian Police Operation Arrests More Than 400 People Linked to Narcotrafficking
On August 31, about 1,100 Brazilian Federal Police agents (PF, in Portuguese) launched the second phase of Operation Safe Box (Operação Caixa Forte), the country’s largest operation that has ever been carried out against criminal organizations. The operation, which was conducted in 72 cities, executed 422 arrest warrants and 201 [ … ]
Brazilian Air Force Trains Service Members in Irregular Warfare
An irregular warfare with conflicts between insurgent, paramilitary, and resistance groups: This was the scenario the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, in Portuguese) used in Operational Exercise Tápio (EXOP Tápio, in Portuguese), which took place between August 10 and September 4, 2020. The objective of the exercise was to maintain the [ … ]
UN Publishes World Drug Report and Highlights Decrease in Narcotrafficking Due to the Pandemic
According to the United Nations’ (U.N.) World Drug Report 2020, published on June 25, drug addiction affects 35.6 million people worldwide. The report, which is annually updated, uses 2019 reference data, but also offers an analysis on the effect of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the drug supply chain. The [ … ]
Guatemala Combats Forest Fires Caused by Narcotrafficking
Forest fires caused by organized criminal groups have destroyed thousands of hectares of Guatemalan forest. The fires are concentrated in Petén department, on the border with Belize and Mexico. On July 6, José Cal, a historian and researcher at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, told Diálogo that the [ … ]
US Navy Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation, Contests Venezuela’s Excessive Maritime Claim in Caribbean Sea
While peacefully operating in the Caribbean Sea, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze conducted a freedom of navigation operation on June 23, contesting an excessive maritime claim by Venezuela. The U.S. Navy ship conducted the operation in international waters outside Venezuela’s 12 nautical-mile territorial jurisdiction. During the operation, the [ … ]
US Places Nicaraguan Military Chief, Finance Minister on Sanctions Blacklist
With the intent of increasing pressure on the regime of Daniel Ortega, the United States announced sanctions against Nicaragua's military chief and finance minister. General Julio César Aviles, commander of the Nicaraguan Armed Forces, and Iván Adolfo Acosta, minister of Finance and Public Credit, were placed on the U.S. sanctions [ … ]
Colombia and Panama Strengthen Borders Against Drugs
The security forces of Colombia and Panama have increased surveillance operations along their borders in an effort to disrupt illicit drug trafficking. On April 22, in two multinational operations conducted in Panama with the United States and Colombia, authorities seized 2,193 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, worth $73 million. The Panamanian [ … ]
Argentine Navy Captures Chinese Vessel Fishing Illegally
Argentine Navy service members captured a Chinese ship that was fishing illegally in the Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), amid growing concern over predatory fishing in the South Atlantic. On May 5, the Offshore Patrol Vessel ARA Bouchard was conducting surveillance in Argentine maritime waters when it sighted the Chinese [ … ]
JTF-Bravo Strengthens Central America Against COVID-19
U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo) is deploying its humanitarian arm in Central America to strengthen response capabilities and halt the rapid spread of COVID-19. JTF-Bravo is sending health supplies to protect doctors, nurses, service members, and police forces. This aid began to reach the region in early [ … ]