Ministers and officials from nine countries in South America announced this Thursday (23) a strategic alliance of cooperation against transnational organized crime at a meeting convened by the Brazilian government in Brasilia.

Authorities in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Uruguay, in addition to local authorities, stressed the priority of combating criminal activity in several territories and the need to “implement concerted action,” the statement said. agency AFP by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Security.

The goal is to facilitate intelligence sharing, integrated action and joint criminal investigation planning. Photo: Civil Police/Disclosure/ND

Argentina and Chile were represented but did not sign the document, which was approved by Interpol Secretary General Juergen Stock and Ameripol Executive Secretary Marcio Nunez de Oliveira.

Brazil promoted convergence in “an alliance against crime of a strategic and sovereign nature between our ministries, an alliance that expands the traditional ostensible police system for coordinated action to prevent illegal activities,” said Minister of Justice and Public Security Anderson Torres. , at the opening of the event, which will end this Friday (24).

The alliance offers “intelligence sharing to better diagnose and prevent transnational illegal activities,” he explained. The South American authorities that signed the declaration are considering, among other initiatives, a proposal by Brazil to gather security agents from different countries to work together at the International Police Cooperation Center based in Rio de Janeiro.

Torres said the goal is to promote intelligence sharing, joint action and the planning of joint criminal investigations.

According to the minister, cooperation will allow developing operations with high results. He cited Operation New Alliance between Brazil and Paraguay as an example, during which 5,400 tons of marijuana, equivalent to $162 million, were seized from illicit traffic out of 7,000 tons seized globally in 2021, according to his ministry.

Representatives of the nine countries agreed to meet twice a year to assess the direction of the alliance.