The Venezuelan Association of Cosmetic Surgeons estimates that 2,000 women in the country receive butt injections on the black market each month. According to an interview with a doctor who provides the service, the cost to receive a black market butt injection in Venezuela is about $300. In 2013, there were 17 deaths in Venezuela… Continue reading Cost of a Black Market Butt Injection in Venezuela
Tag: Venezuela Security Threats
Top Kidnap for Ransom Countries in 2013
Risk consultancy firm Control Risks released their Risk Map 2014, which highlights the areas of potential threats in 2014. In the report, the company highlighted the countries in 2013 that had the most incidents of kidnapping for ransom during the year. The top 5 countries where kidnapping for ransom took place are as follows: 1.… Continue reading Top Kidnap for Ransom Countries in 2013
Amount of Fuel Smuggled into Colombia
According to security services in Colombia, between 10 to 15 percent of the fuel used by drivers in Colombia was smuggled into the country. Roughly one million gallons of gasoline is smuggled into the country each day, with 70 to 80 percent of the fuel coming from Venezuela. The remaining gas is smuggled into Colombia… Continue reading Amount of Fuel Smuggled into Colombia
Counterfeit Drugs in Colombia
The director of the Tax and Customs enforcement agency in Colombia stated that the profit margin for criminals selling counterfeit drugs is between 500 to 1,000 percent. For example, a fake Viagra pill that costs $1 to manufacture can be sold for $5 to $10. Intelligence analysts state that cost of the counterfeit drugs being… Continue reading Counterfeit Drugs in Colombia
Botnet Traffic Losses in Online Advertising
A report by an online advertising and Internet security firm stated that up to $9.5 Billion in online advertising in 2013 could be wasted by displaying ads to bot traffic. Up to 46 percent of Web-based ad impressions in 2013 could be displayed to suspicious and malicious traffic that is controlled by botnets. 35 percent… Continue reading Botnet Traffic Losses in Online Advertising
Number of Kidnappings in Venezuela in 2012
Between 625 to 1,970 kidnappings took place in Venezuela in 2012, according to risk consultancy group Control Risks. The criminal justice system of Venezuela does not keep official statistics on the number of kidnappings, but did report that security officials facilitated the safe return of 413 hostages in 2012. (All threats and intelligence from kidnap… Continue reading Number of Kidnappings in Venezuela in 2012
Drug Seizures in Venezuela in 2012
Criminal justice programs in Venezuela announced that over 45 tons of illegal drugs was seized in the country in 2012. Over 60 percent of the illicit drugs were cocaine, with 27.17 tons of cocaine being seized by police. The remainder of the drugs were mostly marijuana seizures. In addition to the drugs, authorities in Venezuela… Continue reading Drug Seizures in Venezuela in 2012
South American Drugs Smuggled Through Venezuela in 2010
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy estimated that in 2010, over 200 tons of South American cocaine was trafficked through Venezuela on its way to the global markets. The cocaine represented 24 percent of all cocaine shipments from South America.
Up to 40 percent of the cocaine trafficked to Europe is believed to have traveled through Venezuela.
US Officials believe that corruption in Venezuela leads to ties between the county and FARC guerrillas, who control the cocaine industry in the region.
Amount of Drugs Moved Through Honduras
90 percent of cocaine trafficked into the United States that was produced in Colombia and Venezuela is trafficked through Central America. More than a third of that cocaine is moved through the country of Honduras.
Estimated Number of Kidnapping Incidents in Venezuela Between 2008-2009
According to the National Statistics Institute, there were an estimated 17,000 kidnappings in Venezuela between July 2008 and July 2009. A majority of the kidnap and ransom cases appeared to be “express kidnappings,” where a person is held hostage for a day and released with a ransom payment quickly.