South America

INTERVIEW: A research team led by academics from the United Kingdom and America is pioneering a ‘self-determination theory’ approach to inclusivity training for police officers; the team believe that if successful, the programme – currently being piloted by Brazil’s Federal Police – could have “an impact across the world”, as Dr Maya Al-Khouja explained to Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

ANALYSIS: With the significant surge in the demand for cocaine over the past decade, drug traffickers have needed to find ways to launder huge sums of money; Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University Senior Lecturer Pierre-Charles Pradier explores the traditional processes for criminals to launder their cash, and how the development of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has prevented new challenges in the fight against organised crime.

FEATURE: The latest report on the MDMA drugs market, published by Europol and the European Union Drugs Agency, points to increased European production with significant health and environmental impacts, as well as EU criminal gangs reversing traditional cocaine routes to export MDMA to South America and Asia – in some cases bartering their product for other drugs – as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

ANALYSIS: The increase in drug-related extreme violence and the scale of drug seizures across Europe suggest Mexican and South American cartels already view the EU as the ideal location for expansion; former DEA Special Agent Michael Brown, Global Director of Counter-Narcotics Technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices, believes steps can be taken by European governments and law enforcement to thwart that expansion – but will require political will, increased co-operation, and better use of technology.

REPORT LAUNCH: Policing Insight launches a new thematic report – Facing the future: the rise of facial recognition in policing. The report aims to be a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about facial recognition; with contributions from 34 expert stakeholders from around the world, we explain the technology and highlight the big debates around its use.

FEATURE: In January the Global Law Enforcement & Public Health Association (GLEPHA) published a series of reports as part of the ‘Envisaging the future of policing and public health’ project, covering a range of topics including harm reduction, diversion, and violence against women and girls; in the last in a series of seven articles, Policing Insight’s Thomas James looks at GLEPHA’s report on the police response to those in mental health crisis.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are delivering benefits in analysing huge volumes of historic data across both the private and public sector, but their use in real-time situations has been more limited; Hexagon Director Nick Chorley spoke to Policing Insight about the opportunities for greater use to assist live command and control decision making, and the importance of allaying fears over ‘big brother’ approaches and potential bias.

ANALYSIS: The recent shooting of PSNI DCI John Caldwell has once again turned the spotlight on terrorism in Northern Ireland, but former Police Scotland Superintendent and terrorism expert Martin Gallagher believes many of the supposed ‘freedom fighters’ in the Troubles and other terrorist campaigns were more interested in reputation and criminal gain than any cause, and are turning to organised crime to maintain their relevance and power.

ANALYSIS: The recent Spanish seizure of a number of underwater ‘narco drones’ capable of carrying around 200kgs of drug while being operated remotely has highlighted the growth in one narcotics trafficking method; Professor Natalie Klein of UNSW Sydney and Dr Rob McLaughlin of the Australian National University believe both Australian and international law will need to be updated to be able to act effectively against those using such techniques.

ANALYSIS: New research has highlighted the increasing use of non-traditional ports for trafficking cocaine, as organised crime groups try to keep pace with growing demand for the drug; Policing Insight’s Chris Allen takes a closer look at the research, and considers what the findings mean for law enforcement agencies involved in targeting the narcotics market.

Top Articles 2021: Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter leads the team in selecting their favourite articles published in 2021. The editorial team have each selected their ‘Top 3’ picks and we have made them freely available during the Christmas period for all users with at least a free registered account. We hope you enjoy our selections!

FEATURE: The latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Europol on the global cocaine trade highlights the significant surge in both supply and profits, along with a concerning increase in violence; Policing Insight’s Chris Allen looks at the latest trends highlighted by the research, and the implications for efforts to tackle the global drugs market going forwards.

FEATURE: The idea of drug-filled submarines bringing cocaine from Colombia to Europe may seem more suited to the cinema screen than the Atlantic, but as Policing insight’s Chris Allen reports, recent seizures would suggest that narco-subs built in South America are now able to travel much longer distances, bringing their lethal cargo to a much larger market.

ANALYSIS: New research has highlighted the increased frequency and volume of cocaine shipments into Europe from South America; Policing Insight’s Chris Allen looks at the reasons behind the changes to the drugs market, and how the trade and trafficking routes are likely to evolve in the future. 

ANALYSIS: Policing Insight’s Chris Allen examines how the pandemic has forced drug traffickers to change tried and tested smuggling routes, and explores how this will impact on the new transit countries as well as the wider European cocaine trade.

Top Articles 2020: Policing Insight Editor Keith Potter leads the team in selecting their favourite articles published in 2020. The editorial team have each selected their ‘Top 10’ picks and we have made them freely available during the Christmas period for all users with at least a free registered account. We hope you enjoy our selections!

INTERVIEW: Incorporating new technology, collaborating with partners and maintaining social legitimacy are just some of the challenges facing Chile’s PDI in the future, explains Director General Héctor Espinosa, in the second half of his two-part interview with Policing Insight.

INTERVIEW: Chilean policing and society in general have undergone significant changes since the 1990s, and the country’s PDI police force is now regarded by citizens as one of the country’s must trusted and reliable institutions; in this two-part interview, Policing Insight spoke to PDI Director General Héctor Espinosa about the work of the force, the challenges it faces – nationally and internationally – and what the future may hold.