News Links written by Christopher Looft
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Thursday, July 26, 2012
| Location: | Brazil |
| Category: | Public Security |
| Title: | Rio Loses First 'Pacifying' Police Officer to Gang Attack |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | The attack against the UPP may also be indicative that local criminals viewed the police unit as a serious threat which had to be confronted, despite the serious consequences this could bring. |
Friday, July 20, 2012
| Location: | Brazil |
| Category: | News Email, Public Security |
| Title: | Is a Police-Gang War Brewing in Sao Paulo? |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | The killing of eight people by Sao Paulo police in the course of one night last weekend could point to a cycle of revenge killings between police and gang members. |
| Location: | Brazil, Paraguay |
| Category: | Public Security |
| Title: | Brazilian 'Red Command Gang Boss' Murdered in Paraguay |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | The Brazilian Federal Police representative in Paraguay has previously complained that Brazilian traffickers are fleeing the security crackdowns in urban centers like Rio de Janeiro, and relocating to Paraguay. |
Thursday, July 19, 2012
| Location: | Colombia, Venezuela |
| Category: | Arms Trafficking, Emerging Criminal Groups |
| Colombia Category: | Arms Trafficking, Emerging Criminal Groups |
| Title: | Rastrojos Arms Bust Points to Venezuela Military Connection |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | Given that the FARC traditionally has better contacts to procure arms supplies from the Venezuelan military, the fact that the Rastrojos have obtained old military equipment may hint at an increased flow of decommissioned or limited-use Venezuelan weapons |
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
| Location: | Argentina, Brazil |
| Category: | Arms Trafficking |
| Title: | Argentine Military Guns Missing, Pointing to Brazil Connection |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | While the destination of most of these weapons is still unclear, one rifle reported missing from a military arsenal turned up in early 2011 after a police raid in a Rio de Janeiro favela. |
Monday, July 16, 2012
| Location: | Chile |
| Category: | Europes Role, Narcotrafficking |
| Title: | Chile Seafood Cocaine Bust Highlights Alternative Routes to Europe |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | The country borders top cocaine producers Bolivia and Peru, and its high level of domestic consumption ensures an ample supply of cocaine for traffickers seeking to profit by smuggling it to Europe. |
Monday, June 11, 2012
| Location: | Guatemala |
| Category: | Corruption, Kidnapping, Public Security |
| Title: | After Foiled Plot, 11 Guatemalan Cops Arrested for Kidnapping |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | If police are carrying out kidnapping themselves, this would force down the number of crimes that are reported to the police |
| Location: | Jamaica |
| Category: | Extraditions, Narcotrafficking, U.S. Policy |
| Title: | Jamaica Kingpin 'Dudus' Coke Gets Maximum Sentence |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | He was given the maximum sentence after the court heard testimony from people who said they had been victims of violence by his group. |
| Location: | Jamaica |
| Category: | Extraditions, Narcotrafficking, U.S. Policy |
| Title: | Jamaica Kingpin 'Dudus' Coke Gets Maximum Sentence |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | He was given the maximum sentence after the court heard testimony from people who said they had been victims of violence by his group. |
Friday, June 8, 2012
| Location: | Guatemala |
| Category: | Corruption, Kidnapping, Public Security |
| Title: | After Foiled Plot, 11 Guatemalan Cops Arrested for Kidnapping |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | If police are carrying out kidnapping themselves, this would force down the number of crimes that are reported to the police. |
Friday, June 1, 2012
| Location: | Brazil |
| Category: | Brazil, Civil-Military Relations, News Email, Public Security |
| Title: | Police Replace Army in Key Rio Favelas, as Pacification Advances |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | Together, Complexo do Alemão and the neighboring Complexo da Penha are set to receive a total of eight UPPs by the end of June. |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
| Location: | Mexico |
| Category: | Corruption, Extraditions, Mexico, Narcotrafficking, U.S. Policy |
| Title: | Mexico Extradites Key Witness in Case Against Generals |
| Author/Source: | Christopher Looft InSight |
| Brief: | Though El Grande may be able to testify over video link, there is a poor record of witnesses continuing to collaborate with Mexican justice once they have been sent to the US. |