Networked Intelligence | 5 April 2011 Mexico Gangs earn US$6.6 billion annually helping illegal immigrants reach the U.S.
Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Antonio Mazzitelli reported that organized crime organizations earn about US$6.6 billion annually trafficking Mexican migrants to the United States. Each Mexican immigrant pays up to US$2,000 to cross the border illegally, while those coming from Central and South America may pay even more (March 2011) Honduras Representatives from Nicaraguan and Honduran armies hold security meetings Representatives of the Nicaraguan Army met with their Honduran counterparts the week of 28 March 2011 to discuss issues affecting regional security. The bilateral meetings focused on smuggling, particularly of drugs and persons, in the Honduran departments of Choluteca and El Paraíso and Nicaraguan departments of Chinandega, Nueva Segovia, and Madriz, in the western portion of the countries shared border. Costa Rica First Border Police Unit inaugurated On 30 March 2011, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla and Security Minister José Tijerino presided over the inauguration of the countrys first Border Police unit, consisting of 153 specially trained officers stationed along the Nicaraguan border in La Crux, Upala, and Los Chiles. Since 24 February 2011, the soldiers were trained in rural operations, GPS mapping and techniques for high-risk combat and patrol operations, including handling explosives and various weapons. Panama Leaked cables reveal relationship between Panama, Hezbollah, ETA and FARC According to a U.S. diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks, Hezbollah and Hamas may have cells established in Panama. The cable, sent from the U.S. Embassy in Panama to the U.S. Department of State on 1 March of 2009, also noted that Panama cooperated with the United States in identifying possible terrorist threats and terrorist organizations in the country. According to the cable, the Basque terrorist group ETA also recruited in Panama in 2006, and the Colombian FARC maintains permanent and semi-permanent bases in the country. (March, 2011) Region U.S. to draft Anti-Drug Plan for Mexico, the rest of Central America and Colombia In a US Senate hearing on 31 March 2011, US Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske reported that by summer 2011, the United States will draft a comprehensive Anti-Drug Plan for Latin America, integrating the Merida Initiative in Mexico, Plan Colombia, and initiatives in Central America. U.S. Head of Southern Command Gen. Douglas Fraser acknowledged that drug traffickers and street gangs make the Northern Triangle of Central America, consisting of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, one of the most dangerous regions in the world. Colombia FARC attack halts flow of gas from Colombia to Venezuela A FARC attack on the Bicentennial natural gas pipeline that transports 5 million cubic meters a day of gas from Colombia to Venezuela completely halted the flow of gas on 27 March 2011. The explosion occurred in Colombia near the town of Maicao near the Venezuelan border, and caused officials in the Venezuelan state of Zulia to ration electricity as the Termozulia thermoelectric plant did not have sufficient fuel to operate two of its units which each produce up to 150 megawatts a day. On 30 March 2011, the Commissioner of Venezuelas National Electric Corporation (Corpoelec) announced that Colombia agreed to repay an amount of gas sufficient to keep the Venezuelan electric plants running normally. Venezuela - Government plans to train indigenous youth, employ as National Police Venezuelan Minister of the Interior and Justice Tareck El Aissami revealed on 30 March 2011 that the Government is planning to train and employ indigenous youths from the Yucpas, Barí and Guayú communities to be National Police. El Aissami said the move is meant to transform the police force into a respectable force that can serve local communities. Bolivia Gov't and Brazil confiscate 2 tons of cocaine along shared border In a joint operation, antidrug officers in Bolivia and Brazil confiscated 2 tons of cocaine and US$42 million in goods along their shared border. Officers arrested 35 people of Bolivian, Colombian, Ecuadoran, and Brazilian nationalities. Sources say that the former mayors of Puerto Suárez and Puerto Quijarro were among those arrested. (March 2011) Ecuador Gov't to receive US$1.5 billion investment for oil fields On 29 March 2011, the Ecuadoran Ministry of Non-Renewable Resources issued a report announcing that the country expects to receive US$1.5 billion in investments to increase production of five oil fields, currently producing 150,000 barrels a day. Firms offering investment and assistance to improve Ecuador's production include U.S. companies Baker Hughes and Halliburton, Chinese company Sinopec, French company Schlumberger and Argentine firm Tecpetrol. Ecuador Petroecuador and Petroamazonas merge as Ríp Napo production drops On 31 March 2011, Petroecuador and Petroamazonas began a merger process that will result in three companies: one in charge of exploration and production, another concentrating on refining and transportation, while the third company will oversee and manage all of the companies' activities. This comes as Ecuadoran Non-Renewable Resources Minister Wilson Pástor announced a sizable drop in production of the partnership between PDVSA and Petroecuador in the Sacha Field, known as Río Napo. The 2,000-barrel per day decrease in production will force both parties to renegotiate the contract. Chile Gov't to invest heavily in energy transmission On 31 March 2011, Laurence Golborne, Chilean Minister of Mining and Energy announced that the government intends to invest US$877 million on transmission of energy in 2011, 900 percent more than the annual average investment in this sector for the past six years. Paraguay President Lugo discusses trade, politics with Iranian President Ahmadinejad On 30 March 2011, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo spoke with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by phone to discuss the potential trade of Paraguayan soy, beef, and possibly uranium, for Iranian arms and technology. La Nación, a newspaper in Paraguay, reported that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was the driver behind the talks. Paraguayan news organization ABC reported that Ahmadinejad also consulted with Lugo about providing asylum to Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, though the Lugo administration flatly denies that Qaddafi entered the conversation. Uruguay Rapid expansion in foreign investment in Uruguay Uruguays Central Bank revealed that foreign direct investment (FDI) increased in 2010 to US$1.6 billion, a 28 percent increase over 2009. The Central Bank attributes the increase in FDI to an improved economy, with greater profits and reinvestment. However, Uruguays national net outflow also grew significantly in 2010, in large part due to the cancellation of a US$300 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank, which deepened a current account deficit. Brazil Fewer restrictions on flights between Brazil, Canada and Mexico On 30 March 2011, Brazil signed an aviation agreement with Canada and Mexico, eliminating limits on the number of flights between Brazil and the other two countries, echoing the agreement signed by the National Agency of Civil Aviation (ANAC) and the United States last month. Until now, flights were limited to seven per week in both Mexico and Canada, including passenger, air cargo, and mixed flights. Russia is expected to follow suit as it renegotiates its commercial aviation agreement with Brazil in the coming months. Southern Pulse, LLC © 2011 Weekly Newsletter www.southernpulse.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. ~Albert Einstein [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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