Newsbriefing – Week of 18 February

Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cocaine, Colombia, Conflicts, Ecuador, Latin America, Newsbriefings, Nigeria, Security threats, Terrorism, Trafficking, Venezuela

The trial of the “Air Cocaine” drug-trafficking case started on 18 February in Aix-en-Provence, France. The case involves the seizure of 680 kilos of cocaine on board of a private jet in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic back in 2013. Both the pilots and passengers are facing up severe sentences. The kidnapping and assassination of three…

Newsbriefing – Week of 11 February

Cannabis, Caribbean, Decriminalisation, Drug policy, Latin America, Mexico, Newsbriefings, Nigeria, Trafficking, Venezuela, West Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested the reclassification of cannabis as Schedule 1 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. At least half of the 53 members of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs will have to ratify the proposed amendments, for the proposition to be accepted. However, many of these countries prohibit the use…

Newsbriefing – Week of 4 February

Brazil, Cocaine, Colombia, Conflicts, Corruption, EU, Latin America, Newsbriefings, Paraguay, Peru, Security context, Security threats, Trafficking, UN

In 2018, the port of Rotterdam reached a peak in cocaine seizure with 19 tonnes. Of these, 4 tonnes were secured in December only. Most of the loads seized come from South America. On Tuesday, the UN Security Council discussed the pressing issue of transnational maritime crime. At this occasion the UNODC director highlighted the…

Newsbriefing – Week of 28 January

Cocaine, Cooperation, Corruption, EU, Latin America, Morocco, Newsbriefings, Nigeria, Trafficking, UN, Venezuela, West Africa

On January 28, a workshop on Trafficking in Persons was held in Abuja, Nigeria. At this occasion, the Labour Migration Expert of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) discussed Alliance 8.7, a global network established in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with the aim of reducing child labour…

Newsbriefing – Week of 21 January

Cocaine, Colombia, Ghana, Jamaica, Latin America, Newsbriefings, Security context, Security threats, Trafficking, US, Venezuela

Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack which killed over 20 members of the Santander National Police Academy. Colombian president Ivan Duque promised to bring the perpetrators, deemed as terrorists, to justice. On January 23, the president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó declared himself as interim president of Venezuela,…