Triple Alliance of Crime Groups Threatens Amazon Region in South America

A coalition of Colombian dissidents, Brazilian organized crime, and Peruvian drug traffickers is increasingly overwhelming law enforcement in the Amazon region, particularly along the borders of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. As coca harvesting season begins, Indigenous communities in Colombia report an uptick in violence and drug trafficking activities that exploit the area’s natural resources.

Indigenous resident Víctor, who has worked as a coca leaf scraper, describes the dangerous conditions he faces on the farms operated by drug traffickers, where he contends with armed guards and a treacherous environment. With the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating drug use among local teenagers, community leaders are distressed by the socio-economic pressures driving families to engage in illegal activities.

This surge in drug trafficking has historical roots, tracing back to the dismantling of the FARC guerrilla's control after the 2016 peace agreement with the Colombian government. A new criminal landscape has emerged, with groups like the Comando Vermelho in Brazil strengthening ties with Colombian dissidents. Reports indicate that the region is not just a hub for cocaine, but also illegal gold and precious wood trafficking, posing threats to environmental sustainability.

Military officials highlight the challenge of policing thousands of kilometers of dense jungle. They often rely on air operations for surveillance and intervention, facing persistent allegations of corruption among local law enforcement. As illegal mining operations proliferate, so do the profits, sustaining a cycle of crime that threatens the socio-environmental fabric of the Amazon.

The ongoing conflict illustrates the deep interlinkages among drug trafficking, violence, and corruption in the Amazon, raising urgent calls for coordinated action among Colombia, Peru, and Brazil to address these pressing issues.