Cape Verde wages war with drug gangs

[waltky]

Small country stands up to drug gangs...

Tiny Cape Verde picks big fight with drug gangs
30 Nov.`15 - When Cape Verde police dismantled a drugs network preparing to smuggle tens of millions of dollars of cocaine to Europe in 2011, the operation was hailed as a rare victory against international crime by one of Africa's smallest states.

Within two years it had yielded a series of convictions as well as further seizures of cash and real estate. Soon after that, however, senior officials began receiving threats. Then, in September last year, a gunman shot dead the 56-year-old mother of Katia Tavares, Cape Verde's top anti-drugs investigator, at her yellow two-storey house in the capital, Praia. The son of Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves was wounded in a separate shooting months later. Both attacks have been linked to the drugs probe, testing the tiny country's determination to crack down on powerful smuggling gangs ahead of elections early in 2016.

Cape Verde's judicial police arrange drugs seized during their raid on targets in the Flying Boat case are seen before being burnt in Praia, Cape Verde​

A cluster of 10 volcanic islands 570 km (350 miles) off Senegal, Cape Verde stands out both as a pocket of relative stability in West Africa and for its firm action against the networks channeling Latin American cocaine to Europe. European and U.S. law enforcement officials engaged in the same struggle view Cape Verde's efforts as a model for the region. "They are much better than on the mainland," said one.

Cape Verde's judicial police arrange drugs seized during their raid on targets in the Flying Boat case are seen before being burnt in Praia, Cape Verde​

But the violence unleashed in the wake of the so-called Flying Boat case - a reference to the smugglers' high-powered motor launch - has pushed security concerns to the forefront of public debate. "They're trying to threaten the authorities and the state as it fights organized crime," said Patricio Varela, head of the country's Judicial Police. The Tavares killing sent shockwaves through the former Portuguese colony's population of 500,000. Prosecutor Oscar Tavares - no relation - described it as an attack on democracy.

Drugs seized by Cape Verde's judicial police during their raid on targets in the Flying Boat case are burnt in Praia, Cape Verde​

Although accustomed to occasional bloodshed among traffickers, the state had never seen such a direct challenge to its authority. Cape Verde has suffered no coups or civil conflict in the four decades since independence, despite its scant resources and punishing drought cycles. Several Western countries sent teams to support local police in the wake of the shootings, and a suspect was killed resisting arrest.

SLAVERY TO COCAINE

 

[longknife]

I read this story with interest. That such a small country is even able to stand up against the corruption the drug creates is worth noting.

 

[waltky]

Colombia to use warplanes against gangs...

Colombia to send jets against criminal gangs
Fri, 06 May 2016 - Colombia announces it will use military force, including air strikes, against major criminal gangs.

The Colombian government says it will launch air raids against gangs involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining. Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said the full force of the state, including the military, would be used to fight them. The gangs emerged from right-wing paramilitary squads disbanded under the last government of Alvaro Uribe, in office until five years ago. Officials say there are three criminal gangs with about 3,000 members.

This handout picture released by the Colombian Defence Ministry's press office shows Colombia's Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas (C) and the Police and Armed Forces commanders on 1 April​

Air raids against left-wing Farc - country's largest rebel group - are currently suspended, as peace talks continue in an effort to end five decades of conflict. "This will allow the application of the entire force of the state, without exception, against organised armed groups, against powerful mafias," Mr Villegas said. The new strategy specifically targets three groups - the Clan Usuga, Los Pelusos and Los Puntilleros. Clan Usuga, is the largest and is accused of trafficking cocaine to Central America and on to the US.

The Los Pelusos gang has strong links with the powerful Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Los Puntilleros are involved in trafficking in Colombia's Catatumbo region. Analysts say the decision to militarise the fight against organised crime marks a sharp turn in strategy as the government is nearing a peace deal with the Farc. Air raids have been the most powerful military strategy against guerrilla groups and led to the deaths of many of their most feared commanders. President Juan Manuel Santos said earlier this week that the US was providing intelligence to help fight criminal gangs.

Colombia to send jets against criminal gangs - BBC News

 

[anotherlife]

Cape Verde is beautiful. Europe will not support their efforts against the drug cartels. Now that they won, they can invite the cartels back, to buy back their confiscated weapons. Business is business.