By Steve Macko, ENN Editor
The Chicago-based Emergency Response and Research Institute has recently made a study regarding security issues in Latin America. Throughout the region, several trends were seen. The most worrisome issues are non-political motivated and drug related crimes.
Years ago, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, after the Castro regime was established in Cuba, many intelligence analysts predicted that Marxist-inspired guerrilla campaigns would overrun many of the governments in South and Central America. During that period of time, there were many rural and urban guerrilla campaigns in the region, most notably in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
When the mid-1980s came around, guerrilla attacks against U.S. interests were taking place at the rate of one attack every ten days. They accounted for half of the terrorist attacks against U.S. targets, at the time. Western and Latin American businessmen were being kidnapped and murdered at an alarming rate.
But today, as we enter the late 1990s, the security situation in Latin America is quite different. Less violence is perceived. There are better counter-insurgency techniques being employed by the governments. Marxist ideals have been discredited. And social reform, in many of the countries, has led to a smaller number of guerrilla activities. The only two Latin American countries with significant guerrilla problems are Colombia and Peru. Guerrillas still pop up in other countries in the region, but they are not seen to pose a significant threat to any governments.
But still, while the guerrilla activity is on the list of security problems in Latin America, they are not at the top. More serious threats are posed by the very rapidly rising non-political motivated crime and drug-related crime.
LATIN AMERICA DRUG CARTELS
Probably the number one security problem in Latin America concerns the very powerful illegal drug cartels. The centers of activity for these criminal groups are Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. As it has been said many times, these three countries are estimated to account for almost the entire world production of cocaine. It is believed that between 750 and 900 tons of coca are grown in these three countries every year. About 56 percent of it comes from Peru, 20 percent from Bolivia and 11 percent from Colombia. Colombia is the main center of producing coca leaves into cocaine.
The main exit points of distribution to Europe are in Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela. Most of the cocaine that is smuggled into Europe is concealed in shipping containers aboard ships that are enroute to Rotterdam or ports on the Mediterranean Sea -- such as Barcelona, Spain or Genoa, Italy. Authorities in Europe say that ports in the Baltic states are being used more and more. Also being seen is the drugs being shipped across the Atlantic in small boats and then the cargo is transferred aboard Spanish fishing vessels. And finally, an air route was recently discovered from West Africa into Europe.
Small planes that fly along the Western Coast of Central America account for much of the cocaine that reaches the United States. The planes then drop their cargo at designated drop zones in the Eastern Caribbean Sea, where it is picked up by small boats. It is said that sometimes large shipments of cocaine are transported in commercial aircraft from Colombia and Mexico. Mexico has increasingly become an important base for drug smuggling into the United States.
The powerful Colombian drug cartels are said to launder an estimated $2 billion a year in profits through legitimate companies that they own and/or control. These drug gangs are highly sophisticated. Evidence of their expertise and sophistication was discovered when police recently seized a computer that belonged to the Cali drug cartel. It was found out that the criminals had an extensive intelligence operation of their own that enabled them to tap telephone calls made into or out of Bogota -- including the telephones at the Colombian Defense Ministry.
It is known that the Cali Cartel has its own military wing. The leader of the military wing was recently captured by Colombian authorities. This person, identified as Loiza Ceballos -- AKA "The Scorpion" -- is believed to have taken part in the massacre of 100 peasants who refused to cooperate with the cartel. The peasants were murdered with chainsaws.
LATIN AMERICAN GUERRILLA GROUPS
Besides the problems with the powerful drug cartels, Colombia is also a hotspot for a very powerful guerrilla group, known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). This group is believed to have 3,000 to 5,000 members. The FARC has become increasingly involved in the illegal drug trade. They have been involved in either the processing or the exporting of cocaine. Like a major commercial airport in the United States, the FARC demands as much as $15,000 per flight of every drug- carrying plane that takes off from an airstrip that they guard.
The drug cartels are said to be willing to pay the guerrillas $20,000 for every plane or helicopter that is involved in anti-narcotics operations and that is shot down. In Peru, the guerrilla group known as Shining Path (SL) is said to provide similar services as the FARC.
THE SOARING CRIME RATE IN LATIN AMERICA
Recent statistics indicate that crime is becoming the biggest problem in Latin America. In Colombia, one person was murdered every 15 minutes in the first three months of 1995. Mexico City is averaging about 543 crimes per day. Elsewhere in Mexico, armed gangs of rival drug smugglers have been fighting it out with one another, thus creating new hazards in rural areas.
Crime is extremely high in all of the major cities in Brazil. Wealthy citizens have had to provide for their own security. In large parts of Rio de Janeiro, armed criminal gangs are said to be in control. The city of Sao Paulo is also very dangerous.
A recent ERRI World Sitrep report indicated that violent crime is prevalent in and around Guatemala City. Public buses have become a favorite target of well-armed gangs in the area.
Crime statistics are also very high in Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The police have not been able to handle the work load and the military have been called in to assist in these countries. There is a very distinct crime wave happening in Latin America.
THE EMERGING MURDER AND KIDNAP INDUSTRY IN LATIN AMERICA
In 1994, Peru reported that there were about ten homicides committed in the country every day. Also in 1994, kidnappers in Guatemala were able to extort about $35 million for their victims. An average of three to four wealthy individuals were being kidnapped every month in Guatemala.
Kidnapping is becoming a cottage industry in Latin America. A Japanese businessman from the Sanyo Corporation was just released unharmed after a $2 million ransom was paid for his release in Mexico. Authorities seem powerless to deal with the problem. Their advice to people reporting the kidnapping of a family member or a business associate? "Pay the ransom."
FUTURE TERRORISM IN LATIN AMERICA
A recent study reported that a number of Muslim militants are thought to be emigrating to Brazil. Many of these people are coming from Iran and they are bringing their fanatic Islamic fundamentalism with them. The report indicated that training camps are being set up in the jungles on the borders with Brazil and Argentina. The training camps are believed to be training local recruits in the tactics of guerrilla warfare and terrorism. Once a foothold of Islamic extremism is established in this region and additional "troops" trained, additional problems can be anticipated. Additional monitoring of this situation is warranted.
OTHER PROBLEMS IN LATIN AMERICA
The major factor that breeds a large percentage of the crime and guerrilla activity is poverty. In recent survey conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, showed that about 4 million people were living in what was considered to be miserable conditions without adequate jobs, income or education.
Some countries, such as Chile, have made great strides in overcoming these social ills. But, most of the nations in Latin America still have a long way to go.