News briefing – Week of 19 September

During his address at the UN General Assembly, the President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, highlighted the need to combating drug trafficking and violence associated with organized crime. Countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region are still facing important challenges, despite important progresses, including the peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary…

News Briefing – Week of 12 September

The Governor of Mexico’s Guerrero State is calling for the legalization of opium poppy for medicinal purposes as an alternative plan for minimizing the insecurity in the state, as revealed by Insight Crime. However, as stated by the UNODC Representative to Mexico “structural solutions” must be found to tackle the issue of violence. Reportedly, in…

News Briefing – Week of 22 August

InSight Crime has reported an investigation by Spanish Police which demonstrates that Juan Manuel Muñoz Luévano, a Mexican citizen, headed a criminal organisation that brought cocaine into Spain via the port of Valencia. Muñoz was accused of money laundering and criminal association. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will quit the cocaine drug trade…

News Briefing – Week of 15 August

Paraguay authorities reported the interception of a tour bus loaded with 296 kilos of cocaine on its way to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two men were arrested and charged with drug trafficking and other crimes. According to officials, the cocaine would have a value of $3 million on the Brazilian market. Venezuelan…