South American ministers sign alliance in Brazil against organized crime

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Ministers and officials from nine South American countries announced Thursday a “strategic alliance” of cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime at a meeting convened by the Brazilian government in Brasilia.

Authorities from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay, in addition to Brazil, highlighted the “priority” in the fight against criminal activities in multiple territories and the need to “implement concerted actions”, according to the statement sent to AFP by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Security.

Argentina and Chile were represented but did not sign the document, which was validated by Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock and Ameripol Executive Secretary Marcio Nunes de Oliveira.

The host promoted the rapprochement in “an alliance against crime, of strategic character that expands the traditional police surveillance system,” described the Minister of Justice and Public Security of Brazil, Anderson Torres, at the event’s opening.

This alliance aims to “expand the exchange of intelligence data that will allow a better diagnosis and prevention of transnational crimes,” he explained.

The South American authorities who signed the declaration consider Brazil’s proposal to bring security agents from different countries to work together at the International Police Cooperation Center based in Rio de Janeiro.

The objective is to favor “the exchange of intelligence data, integrated actions, and planning of joint criminal investigations”, indicated Torres.

According to the Brazilian minister, the collaboration will allow the development of operations with strong results.

He cited Operation New Alliance between Brazil and Paraguay, which seized 5,400 tons of marijuana from illegal trafficking, equivalent to US$162 million, out of 7,000 tons seized in the world in 2021, according to data from his ministry.

The representatives of the nine countries agreed to hold biannual meetings to evaluate the direction of the alliance.

With information from Infobae

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