Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) led a meeting with nine South American countries with the aim of creating an exchange of strategic intelligence cooperation, including the issue of organized crime and the destabilization of democracies.
First Meeting
Brazil led the first meeting of its kind, which brought together eight other countries: Uruguay, Paraguay, Guyana, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.
What Abin is trying to bring is an environment of cooperation between South American intelligence.
Exchange of Strategic Intelligence
The heads of state have already agreed on this type of cooperation and will try to create an exchange of strategic intelligence of common interest. The topics discussed in this cooperation include crime, drug trafficking, organized crime and the destabilization of democracies.
Analysis:
Governments have few chances of curbing the power of criminal organizations in South America without any kind of international cooperation. Like multinationals, these groups have learned the value of expanding themselves. One of the main motivations is guaranteeing the protection of their main production chains, which provide drugs and weapons. By doing that, they can also reduce costs by removing intermediaries. Brazil is an important location for international criminal organizations born in the country itself, in close neighbors and even in other continents. It connects the producer countries in the Andes to the Atlantic ports and Brazilian airports, which are the main ways to move illicit substances, weapons and other material to Africa and Europe.
The First Capital Command (PCC), the biggest and most powerful Brazilian criminal group was founded in São Paulo, but operates in at least 16 countries, including the US and seven countries in Europe. Meanwhile, the Italian mafia, ‘Ndrangheta, is constantly present in the country focused on supporting operations to export cocaine to Europe. In addition, several South American gangs have direct influence in many regional nations, including Brazil, particularly along its border, from North to South. One example is the Venezuelan faction called Tren de Aragua, which managed to establish itself in various countries, like Chile.
