The Secretary of Multidimensional Security of the Organization of American States, Ivan Marques, pointed out that the operating model of organized crime in Latin America is undergoing a structural transformation, with a reduction in dependence on drug trafficking and expansion into a wide range of illegal activities.
He describes the current situation that can be translated as a scenario of “criminal convergence” between different sources of income. The calculation is Folha de S. Paulo.
According to him, cocaine remains relevant, but it is no longer the only economic axis of these organizations. The profit began to be distributed among activities such as arms trafficking, sexual exploitation, illegal wildlife trade, clandestine extraction of natural resources, extortion and financial crimes, in addition to the integration between legal and illegal businesses.
This change also altered the structure of the groups. Instead of centralized organizations, like the old cartels led by figures like Pablo Escobar, crime began to operate in decentralized networks, with alliances between local and international groups.
Networks expand reach
The new dynamic allows for greater capillarity and reduced operational risks, according to the secretary, in a report compiled by Sheet. Transnational groups articulate fragmented chains, in which production, logistics and distribution are the responsibility of different actors.
In Brazil, factions such as the Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Comando Vermelho have already expanded their operations outside the country and maintain operations in at least 20 nations, according to reports cited by the OAS. The revenue of these organizations also began to depend on a broader portfolio of illicit activities.
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In addition to economic diversification, there is a significant migration of traditional crimes to the digital environment. The OAS identifies growth in fraud, extortion and cyber attacks, with Brazil among the main global targets.
Other threats include the diversion of explosives from mining operations and the increased circulation of weapons in regions such as the Caribbean, where violence has intensified. The organization also monitors risks related to the illegal use of biological and radioactive materials.
