After the United States and the Venezuelan oppositions failed coup attempt on the Government of Nicolas Maduro on April 30^th, 2019, life went back to normal in the chaos of Venezuela. Not only has life gone back to normal, but for many in the world of organized crime and trafficking, things are booming. The Narcos and the traffickers also know that as long as they pay their dues and cooperate with the Maduro Government, they are untouchable by law enforcement be it from the United States or Western Europe. By Orlando Wilson. Full Text -> TOHFF

Traducción de cortesía -> Después de que Estados Unidos y la oposición venezolana fracasaran en el intento de golpe de Estado contra el Gobierno de Nicolás Maduro el 30 de abril de 2019, la vida volvió a la normalidad en el caos de Venezuela. No solo la vida ha vuelto a la normalidad, sino que para muchos en el mundo del crimen organizado y el tráfico, las cosas están en auge. Los narcos y los traficantes también saben que mientras paguen lo que les corresponde y cooperen con el gobierno de Maduro, son intocables por las fuerzas del orden, ya sea de los Estados Unidos o de Europa occidental.

The indictment of a Miami-based businessman allegedly involved in a multi-million dollar gold smuggling ring has shed further light on the role played by Caribbean islands in transnational gold trafficking. In a statement released on June 23, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Jesus Gabriel Rodriguez Jr., the owner of South Florida transport company Transvalue, of “facilitating a $140 million transnational illicit gold smuggling operation aimed at laundering cash with alleged ties to criminal activity.” By Katie Jones. Full Text -> InsightCrime

Citing the sensitivity of the issue as well as a confidentiality clause that governs executive meetings, Bank of Guyana Governor and current Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, Dr Gobin Ganga yesterday declined to comment on allegations made by former Chairman GHK Lall that he [Ganga] had in 2019 said that there was evidence of gold smuggling from Venezuela which could have led to blacklisting of this country. Full Text -> StabroeckNews

For a country teeming with illegal gold traffickers and criminal gangs, it is striking that Venezuela would risk provoking further international wrath with such an audacious incursion into foreign territory. The explanation seems to lie in Venezuela’s conviction that Fernández, aside from being a wanted criminal, is also a backer of armed dissident movements along the volatile southern border region. Full Text -> InSightCrime