Reuters
Newspaper La Jornada
Wednesday April 19, 2023, p. 10
Interpol declared yesterday that the largest operation against firearms ever carried out in Central and South America resulted in the seizure of thousands of illegal devices and drugs, worth 5.7 billion dollars, thanks to the unprecedented cooperation of 15 countries, including Mexico.
The international police organization added that Central and South American authorities made 14,260 arrests during the operation. Trigger IX, held between March 12 and April 2.
The fact that an operation against illegal firearms has led to such massive drug seizures is further proof that these crimes are intertwined.
Interpol Secretary General Juergen Stock said in a statement.
In the operation, 8,263 illicit devices and almost 306,000 cartridges were located, as well as 203 tons of drugs and 372 tons of precursors; Eleven people were rescued in Paraguay when authorities dismantled a human trafficking network, he reported.
According to security forces, there has been an increase in drug-related violence in the past year, fueled by trafficking in illegal firearms. The operation also uncovered cases of corruption, fraud, crimes against the environment, and terrorist activities. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay participated in the operation.
