Latest news with #Bullrich
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Latin American governments use new technology to fight organized crime
July 3 (UPI) --This is part of an occasional series on organized crime in Latin America. Using new and improved technology should support efforts to combat the sharp rise in crime and drug trafficking across Latin America, representatives from several countries have agreed. This unanimity come as global cocaine trafficking reaches record levels and the region remains home to several of the world's top producers. Speaking Tuesday at a regional online conference organized by Legado a las Américas, Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich emphasized the need to equip law enforcement with the best available tools to fight organized crime. "We're in a difficult moment for security," Bullrich said, adding that a key priority is to close the gap in resources between law enforcement and criminal groups. She said that if criminals are using technology to improve communication, launder money through cryptocurrencies and commit cyber fraud, then security forces need the best tools "to pursue them, geolocate them, track the coordinates they use and understand how they communicate." At the event, Uruguayan Sen. Nicolás Martinelli, a former interior minister, said technology can support efforts to fight organized crime and drug trafficking. But he questioned whether countries in the region are ready for the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, where the use of artificial intelligence could infringe on personal privacy. Martinelli emphasized the need to establish public security policies as long-term state strategies that do not change with each new government. "In the most insecure countries, 70% to 75% of people are willing to give up privacy in exchange for greater security -- and therefore more freedom. The more unsafe we feel, the more we isolate ourselves, and in doing so, we gradually lose our freedom," Martinelli said. Another participant, Cibar Benítez, secretary of Paraguay's National Defense Council, said cooperation between police and military forces is essential to national security. "Organized crime isn't made up of simple gangs, but of organizations with a defined structure -- even a hierarchy -- that use technology to commit crimes ranging from white-collar offenses to extreme violence," Benítez said. During the event, Bullrich also noted that cocaine exports from Latin America have risen by 30% in recent years. Drug seizures have increased at a similar rate -- a sign, she said, of governments' efforts to combat trafficking. Bullrich cited the government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa as an example, noting that his administration is confronting criminal gangs that have pushed Ecuador's crime rate to one of the highest in the region over the past decade. She also discussed reforms to Argentina's federal police aimed at transforming the force into a specialized federal criminal investigation agency -- modeled after Brazil's Federal Police, Chile's investigative police and the FBI. "It no longer has just one role. Its core missions are now state security and criminal investigation," she said. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
03-07-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Latin American governments use new technology to fight organized crime
Global cocaine trafficking is reaching record levels, authorities say, and the Latin American region remains home to several of the world's top producers. Photo by Mart Production/ Pexels July 3 (UPI) -- This is part of an occasional series on organized crime in Latin America. Using new and improved technology should support efforts to combat the sharp rise in crime and drug trafficking across Latin America, representatives from several countries have agreed. This unanimity come as global cocaine trafficking reaches record levels and the region remains home to several of the world's top producers. Speaking Tuesday at a regional online conference organized by Legado a las Américas, Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich emphasized the need to equip law enforcement with the best available tools to fight organized crime. "We're in a difficult moment for security," Bullrich said, adding that a key priority is to close the gap in resources between law enforcement and criminal groups. She said that if criminals are using technology to improve communication, launder money through cryptocurrencies and commit cyber fraud, then security forces need the best tools "to pursue them, geolocate them, track the coordinates they use and understand how they communicate." At the event, Uruguayan Sen. Nicolás Martinelli, a former interior minister, said technology can support efforts to fight organized crime and drug trafficking. But he questioned whether countries in the region are ready for the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, where the use of artificial intelligence could infringe on personal privacy. Martinelli emphasized the need to establish public security policies as long-term state strategies that do not change with each new government. "In the most insecure countries, 70% to 75% of people are willing to give up privacy in exchange for greater security -- and therefore more freedom. The more unsafe we feel, the more we isolate ourselves, and in doing so, we gradually lose our freedom," Martinelli said. Another participant, Cibar Benítez, secretary of Paraguay's National Defense Council, said cooperation between police and military forces is essential to national security. "Organized crime isn't made up of simple gangs, but of organizations with a defined structure -- even a hierarchy -- that use technology to commit crimes ranging from white-collar offenses to extreme violence," Benítez said. During the event, Bullrich also noted that cocaine exports from Latin America have risen by 30% in recent years. Drug seizures have increased at a similar rate -- a sign, she said, of governments' efforts to combat trafficking. Bullrich cited the government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa as an example, noting that his administration is confronting criminal gangs that have pushed Ecuador's crime rate to one of the highest in the region over the past decade. She also discussed reforms to Argentina's federal police aimed at transforming the force into a specialized federal criminal investigation agency -- modeled after Brazil's Federal Police, Chile's investigative police and the FBI. "It no longer has just one role. Its core missions are now state security and criminal investigation," she said.
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Argentina launches FBI-style federal investigations agency
June 26 (UPI) -- President Javier Milei has approved the creation of the Federal Investigations Department (DFI), a strategic step aimed at transforming the Argentine Federal Police (PFA) into a specialized federal criminal investigation agency. The department's primary mission is to lead investigations into drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking, financial crimes and terrorism, replacing routine patrols with specialized investigative units. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said Argentina needs a modern force with the real capacity to dismantle criminal organizations. Bullrich said the DFI will be the core of the new federal police, which will no longer function as a uniformed force. It will be supported by state security and diplomatic protection services. "It will focus all efforts on one key task: getting to the root of every criminal organization that seeks power and money in this country," she said. The National Security Ministry will retain the National Gendarmerie, Airport Security Police and Federal Penitentiary Service as uniformed forces. Bullrich said the new federal police will gradually become a force of detectives and specialized investigators serving the federal judiciary nationwide. She likened the DFI to the FBI. The DFI will coordinate operations of the Superintendency for Drug Trafficking Investigations, the Federal Crimes Investigation Unit, regional and federal agencies, criminal intelligence units and other tactical support teams, including firefighters and Special Operations. The DFI has been granted broad authority. One of its main roles is investigating drug trafficking networks in border provinces that have become major entry and exit points for large-scale shipments -- cocaine from Bolivia and marijuana from Paraguay. Another priority is combating transnational organized crime groups, including Brazil's Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Italian and Russian mafias known to be active in Argentina. A controversial provision allows the new force to monitor public digital spaces -- such as social media platforms and websites -- for preventive purposes. The new law governing the federal police provides a legal framework for investigating complex crimes, including technological surveillance, "while also guaranteeing respect for civil liberties and preventing abuses," the ministry said. The department is also authorized to detain individuals for up to 10 hours to verify their identity if they cannot confirm who they are and are suspected of being wanted by the courts. It is further empowered to launch investigations without prior court approval and will have access to both public and private databases. The new law aims to professionalize both current and future personnel. Modeled after criminal intelligence agencies such as the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and counterparts in Israel and the European Union, the department is expected to recruit university graduates, IT specialists and criminologists. Political opposition and human rights groups have criticized the reforms. The Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) warned that the lack of clarity in many provisions could open the door to criminalizing social organizations, suppressing protests, conducting mass digital surveillance of dissenters, and taking law enforcement action without judicial oversight. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
26-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Argentina launches FBI-style federal investigations agency
Argentinian President Javier Milei approved the creation of an FBI-like federal criminal investigation agency. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- President Javier Milei has approved the creation of the Federal Investigations Department (DFI), a strategic step aimed at transforming the Argentine Federal Police (PFA) into a specialized federal criminal investigation agency. The department's primary mission is to lead investigations into drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking, financial crimes and terrorism, replacing routine patrols with specialized investigative units. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said Argentina needs a modern force with the real capacity to dismantle criminal organizations. Bullrich said the DFI will be the core of the new federal police, which will no longer function as a uniformed force. It will be supported by state security and diplomatic protection services. "It will focus all efforts on one key task: getting to the root of every criminal organization that seeks power and money in this country," she said. The National Security Ministry will retain the National Gendarmerie, Airport Security Police and Federal Penitentiary Service as uniformed forces. Bullrich said the new federal police will gradually become a force of detectives and specialized investigators serving the federal judiciary nationwide. She likened the DFI to the FBI. The DFI will coordinate operations of the Superintendency for Drug Trafficking Investigations, the Federal Crimes Investigation Unit, regional and federal agencies, criminal intelligence units and other tactical support teams, including firefighters and Special Operations. The DFI has been granted broad authority. One of its main roles is investigating drug trafficking networks in border provinces that have become major entry and exit points for large-scale shipments -- cocaine from Bolivia and marijuana from Paraguay. Another priority is combating transnational organized crime groups, including Brazil's Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Italian and Russian mafias known to be active in Argentina. A controversial provision allows the new force to monitor public digital spaces -- such as social media platforms and websites -- for preventive purposes. The new law governing the federal police provides a legal framework for investigating complex crimes, including technological surveillance, "while also guaranteeing respect for civil liberties and preventing abuses," the ministry said. The department is also authorized to detain individuals for up to 10 hours to verify their identity if they cannot confirm who they are and are suspected of being wanted by the courts. It is further empowered to launch investigations without prior court approval and will have access to both public and private databases. The new law aims to professionalize both current and future personnel. Modeled after criminal intelligence agencies such as the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and counterparts in Israel and the European Union, the department is expected to recruit university graduates, IT specialists and criminologists. Political opposition and human rights groups have criticized the reforms. The Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) warned that the lack of clarity in many provisions could open the door to criminalizing social organizations, suppressing protests, conducting mass digital surveillance of dissenters, and taking law enforcement action without judicial oversight.
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Argentina arrests 12 suspects linked to Tren de Aragua gang
BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's security minister said on Thursday that 12 suspects were arrested for criminal acts linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a group that the country classifies as a terrorist organization. "It is a highly dangerous gang and today 12 of its members are in prison", Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said in a press conference in Buenos Aires. Bullrich also said the group had carried out attacks on supermarkets, butcher shops, hardware stores using firearms and explosives and caused fatalities. The U.S. State Department designated the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a global terrorist organization in February saying it posed a threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy and economic interests. Meanwhile, Venezuelan government has maintained that the gang, with prison origins, was destroyed during raids in 2023 and no longer exists. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
