US and Peru strengthen fight against organised crime with 'Shield of the Americas' agreement
Ambassador Bernie Navarro highlighted Peru's incorporation into the 'Shield of the Americas' following a cooperation agreement signed in Callao. The FBI and other agencies will participate in intelligence exchange.
Callao: Peru and US sign cooperation agreement against transnational criminal organisations
The United States ambassador to Peru, Bernie Navarro, stated that both countries are "more aligned than ever" on security matters, according to larazon.pe. The statement was made during the signing of a cooperation agreement to twin the Port of Callao with PortMiami.
The initiative is part of a programme called the 'Shield of the Americas', whose central objective is for participating countries to exchange information and coordinate action against criminal organisations operating across multiple territories.
"I would tell criminals to be very careful because we are more aligned than ever," declared Navarro, in reference to the positions of US President Donald Trump and Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori on combating organised crime.
Cooperation with the FBI and intelligence training
The diplomatic representative noted that cooperation involves the FBI and other US agencies present at the embassy. Among the concrete actions foreseen are training and intelligence exchange with Peruvian national authorities.
Navarro also alluded to a request for legislative powers to determine the conditions under which certain criminal organisations could be classified as terrorist groups. He indicated that the first step corresponds to Congress and that, from that point onwards, training and intelligence actions targeting those groups could be expanded.
Peru joined the 'Shield of the Americas' on 10 September
Peru's formal incorporation into the initiative took place on 10 September, following a meeting between Fujimori and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Peruvian Government indicated on that occasion that the programme seeks to coordinate regional efforts against transnational organised crime.
According to US authorities, the initiative provides for intelligence and training cooperation mechanisms also aimed at preventing criminal organisations from relocating their activities to other areas when police pressure increases in a particular territory.
Former minister: cooperation can identify police infiltration
Retired general of the PNP Cluber Aliaga maintained that information exchange between participating countries can help strengthen the intelligence work of Peruvian authorities. The former Interior Minister highlighted that cooperation would serve to tackle networks operating in a transnational manner.
Aliaga added that intelligence work resulting from the agreement could also be used to identify police officers collaborating with criminal organisations or leaking information about operations. He clarified that this assessment corresponds to his personal evaluation of the possible scope of data exchange among member countries of the agreement.
Source: Google News PE — Crime