NEWS | Brazil, and Colombia to Cooperate in Border Crime Enforcement Efforts

Defense Minister Raul Jungmann will meet with his Colombian counterpart and commanders of the Armed Forces of Colombia on Jan 31, 2017 in Manaus

By Sumaia Villela

Local Agência Brasil correspondent

Image Attribute: Defense Minister Raul Jungmann will meet with his Colombian counterpart and commanders of the Armed Forces of Colombia next Tuesday (Jan 31) in Manaus.Divulgação/Sd Mike Allen/ II Comar

Defense Minister Raul Jungmann will meet with his Colombian counterpart and commanders of the Armed Forces of Colombia next Tuesday (Jan 31) in Manaus, Amazonas state, to sign agreements to cooperate in anti-weapon and drug smuggling operations in the borders shared by the two countries.

Jungmann pointed out that a peace agreement entered into force on December 1, 2016, after half a century of clashes between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). As part of the agreement, illegal drug crops must be eradicated, and the guerrillas must turn over their weapons to the United Nations.

Brazil's defense minister talked about concerns over these weapons entering Brazil. “Some of the FARC's dissidents are opposed to the [peace] process, and there is a concern—justifiable or not—that part of their arsenal could be migrating to our cities,” he said.

Roraima

Minister Jungmann gave a press conference in Recife, Pernambuco, in which he also announced an Armed Forces operation at Monte Cristo prison in Roraima state, beginning today (27). Military forces there are running searches and checks for weapons, drugs, escape tunnels, and mobile phones, using wall X-ray devices and a tunnel detector, as well as 15 drug sniffing dogs.

He explained that the 335 soldiers who are in Roraima now have no contact with the prisoners since the state's police forces are responsible for containing the prison population and had entered the prison before the Armed Forces. The Military Prosecution Service is monitoring the operation.

In addition to Roraima, four other states including Amazonas and Rio Grande do Norte have requested similar searches, according to the minister. 

Translated by Mayra Borges  Edited by: Luana Lourenço / Nira Foster

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