Networked Intelligence 40/2009
IRAN
Iran and Venezuela announced plans on 27 October 2009 to form “Beniroug,” a Spanish-based oil company. Beniroug will allow investment in Cuba, Sudan, China, and Bolivia. Additionally, Venezuela signed a deal pledging investment in Iran’s South Pars oil and gas field.
RUSSIA
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed a US$22 million military deal and other energy and trade agreements in Moscow on 29 October 2009. Russia will provide two Mi-17 helicopters to Ecuador.
US-MEXICO BORDER
In the past two years, the FBI has detected more than 400 cases of corruption by public officials along the border with Mexico. There have been 130 formal accusations and 100 arrests of U.S. officials for alleged links to organized crime. (October, 2009)
MEXICO-TEXAS
In Texas, which prohibits the imprisonment of minors under the age of 16, Mexican drug cartels are recruiting teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 to act as dealers and guides for incoming drug shipments. The role of female recruits is to seduce or bribe police and soldiers charged with stopping drug shipments. Minors receive up to US$ 400 per week for their work. (October, 2009)
MEXICO-ARIZONA
So far in 2009, 200 people have disappeared or been kidnapped in Phoenix, Arizona. Authorities said many kidnappings go unreported because families of the victims fear they are related to drug trafficking. (October, 2009)
MEXICO
SEDENA reported that it has arrested 17,260 criminals, most connected to organized crime, and seized US$117,681,778.00 in cash, around 40,000 firearms, 432 airplanes, 13,680 vehicles and 122 boats since December 2006. SEDENA deploys 48,750 soldiers each month and has received 31,915 criminal tips from citizens since January 2008, a quarter of which came by electronic mail. (October 2009)
MEXICO
PGR official, Jose Luis Lagunes Lopez, stated on 27 October 2009 that authorities have seized more than US$100 million from organized crime groups so far this year.
MEXICO
Town Councilmen decided on 26 October 2009 to disband soldiers serving in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, by 15 November 2009, despite Municipal President Jose Reyes Ferriz’s request that the military remain until March 2010. The decision was made due to the monetary cost and failure to curb rising homicide, kidnapping and extortion rates in the city.
MEXICO
On 21 October 2009, the sixth Penal Judge convicted four former police officials from the municipalities of Emiliano Zapata and Tenosique of colluding with organized crime groups involved in human trafficking. Charges included aggravated conspiracy, aggravated extortion and misuse of public service. For their involvement in assisting undocumented persons across the Guatemalan border, the officials were paid between US$773 and US$1,546 monthly.
CUBA
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez announced on 28 October 2009 that Cuba is ready to hold talks on any level with the United States and that Cuba awaits a response from the U.S. about broadening bilateral discussions.
HONDURAS
Enzo Guillermo Micheletti, nephew of the de-facto President, was buried on 26 October 2009 after he and a friend were found in a ditch with gunshots to the back of the head. Authorities are investigating the murders but have no suspects yet.
HONDURAS
Anti-kidnapping agents of the DNSEI are working with police intelligence to locate Alfredo Jalil Salomón, father of Vice Minister of Defense Gabo Alfredo Jalil, who was kidnapped the morning of 26 October 2009 a few blocks from his home. Family and police suspect that Zelaya supporters may have orchestrated the kidnapping.
HONDURAS
Honduran Police said on 28 October 2009 that they confiscated documents detailing a plan by a left-wing group to assassinate policemen and military officers and kidnap businessmen. Police suspected that recent killings and kidnappings might be related to the plot.
COSTA RICA
Police arrested on 29 October 2009 Luis Enrique Barrantes, Sinaloa Cartel point man, at a house located in the Campos Verdes housing development, in Guapiles de Pococi. Barrantes was in charge of logistical operations of the Sinaloa Cartel within Costa Rica, and rented the aircraft that transported 355 kilograms of cocaine and crashed on 1 May 2009. He was listed as the owner of various properties in Alajuela, Samara, and Nicoya, and he co-founded the business association, Fravisa S.A. with a Mexican national.
COLOMBIA-BOLIVIA-MEXICO
Mexican cartels are increasingly investing in the production of Bolivian cocaine using Colombian intermediaries operating in the country. Bolivian police have located a series of large-scale production labs, but have been unable to track the chain of command or sources of funding (October 2009).
COLOMBIA
Colombian authorities captured the Commander of the 23rd front of the FARC, aka Ferney Culebro, aka Richard on 28 October 2009 in Barrancabermeja, Santander department. Ferney Culebro, who was arrested after farmers complained of a massive extortion campaign of roughly 200 families participating in the Familia Guardabosques program, had been in command since the arrest of former commander Carlos Iván Parra in Bogotá.
COLOMBIA
Colombian authorities seized 280 kilograms of R1 explosives in Argelia, Cauca Department on 22 October 2009. 19 anti-personnel mines, five IEDs, ten meters of safety fuse, and ten electric detonators were also seized during the raid. Colombian authorities believe that the seized items belonged to the 47th FARC Squad.
COLOMBIA
Colombian authorities thwarted on 27 October 2009 an intricate series of kidnappings in a major Colombian city by FARC rebels. The plan had been in the making for a number of years.
COLOMBIA-ECUADOR
The Colombian government cited intelligence stating that elements of the FARC have set up at least 12 camps with up to 2,000 guerrillas in the Ecuadorian province of Sucumbíos (October 2009).
VENEZUELA
Over 1000 businesses in Tachira state were closed on 29 October 2009 due to fear of rebel activity in the area. Venezuelan authorities occupied Bolivar and two nearby municipalities after five men were detained for distributing flyers making threats against local businesses.
BOLIVIA
A former Bolivian government minister estimated that narcotrafficking activities are responsible for injecting US$2 billion into the national economy (October 2009).
BOLIVIA
Bolivia confirmed an intent to purchase six Chinese/Pakistani K-8 combat planes, including spares and a simulator, for US$58 million. Bolivia also signed the first contract for a satellite with China, indicating that more will be ordered in the future (November 2009).
PERU
Elena Iparraguirre, the Sendero Luminoso’s (SL) second-in-command, announced on 26 October 2009 her plan to run in the local and regional elections of 2010 and the general election of 2011. The SL is officially known of as the Partido Comunista del Perú, and is not legally barred from running.
BRAZIL-VENEZUELA
Petrobras and PDVSA will form a joint venture company to build and operate the US$12 billion, 230,000 barrels/day Abreu e Lima refinery in Brazil’s Pernambuco state. Petrobras will hold a 60% stake and PDVSA will hold a 40% stake in the project (October 2009)
