Authorities in Latin America arrested more than 14,000 people and seized more than 8,000 illegal weapons in the “largest operation” of its kind, coordinated by Interpolthe international police cooperation organization announced on Tuesday.
The operation called “Trigger IX” took place between March 12 and April 2, thanks to the cooperation between 15 countriesand also left the seizure of 300,000 cartridges and 203 tons of cocaine, The Lyon-based organization (Eastern France) reports this in a statement.
“The fact that an operation against illegal firearms has given rise to attacks from drugs so massive is further evidence (…) that these crimes are connected”said Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock.
The value of the seized drug, which includes other narcotics in addition to cocaine, rises to $5.7 billion. Authorities also seized 372 tons of drug precursors.
Colombian police arrest an alleged partner of the Mexican cartel who sent drugs from the port of Guayaquil and Colombia
The operation led to the “dismantling” of 20 organized crime groupsincluding the arrest of members of the Brazilian Primeiro Comando da Capital, the Mara Salvatrucha gang and the Balkan Cartel“All involved in firearms trafficking,” the organization said.
According to the overall figures in the statement, 14,260 people were arrested, 8,263 were seized weapons and 305,000 cartridges. Uruguay has seized 100,000 rounds of ammunition trafficked by “two European citizens”, in the largest seizure of its kind in the country.
Authorities in Brazil and Paraguay have also closed several firearms outlets for irregular and unlicensed operations. Police cooperation made it possible to discover other crimes such as corruption, fraud, human trafficking, environmental crimes and terrorist activities, details Interpol.
Eleven people have been released from human trafficking in Paraguay and Colombia, in cooperation with Venezuela, has arrested a Venezuelan wanted by Interpol for terrorism and arms trafficking. The participating countries in Trigger IX were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Source: Eluniverso
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