18/07 – Red-hot demand for ipê wood coincides with deforestation hubs in Brazil. The highest rates of illegal exploitation of ipê trees are found in areas of the Brazilian Amazon where deforestation is skyrocketing. Increasing domestic consumption and exports have encouraged the felling of these threatened tropical hardwood species, with demand outstripping the authorized supply and leading to destruction of the forest.
19/07 – Belgian customs conduct major maritime anti-drug trafficking operation. On June 12-13, Belgian customs agents, with the assistance of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the European coastguard Frontex conducted a major operation to intercept drugs entering Belgium from the sea.
20/07 – USD 11 million in illicit medicines seized in global INTERPOL operation. Over just one week (23-30 June), 94 INTERPOL member countries representing every continent launched a coordinated crackdown on illicit online pharmacies in Operation Pangea XV. Globally, law enforcement made more than 7,800 seizures of illicit and misbranded medicines and healthcare products, totaling more than 3 million individual units.
20/07 – A Belgian luxury car purveyor arrested in Spain for money laundering. With Europol’s support, a suspect who is believed to have laundered millions of euros in illicit profits has been arrested following an investigation by the Belgian Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie/Police Judiciaire Fédérale) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional).
22/07 – Colombian drug trafficking groups propose cease-fire with incoming government. The Colombian paramilitary group Clan del Golfo and other armed groups have proposed a cease-fire to the incoming government of Gustavo Petro and have expressed their desire to begin peace talks. In a letter dated July 19, they invited other criminal organizations to join the cease-fire and seek peace now that a new leftist government will be coming to power which has said it will work to bring an end to 60 years of armed conflict.
