International Relations in Public Security

El Líbero, April 5, 2024

A country as open to the world as ours cannot be closed in terms of security; if it is, it becomes an opportunity for crime and a problem for those who must combat it.

If the government defines organized crime as the main challenge in terms of security, where much remains to be done, it should include cooperation within its long list of actions. Not addressing it is a mistake. Organized crime is a transnational threat; drug shipments enter and leave Chile, Latin American criminal groups approach the country, and global mafias have networks within national territory. Why don’t we incorporate the international variable and discuss international relations in public security?

Drug trafficking is a business that has reached such a level of profitability that its resources are practically unlimited, which means the power to corrupt the state could also be limitless. The challenge is no longer to enrich the organization; it is already rich enough. The greater challenge lies in laundering capital in a world where cash is used less and there are greater controls over the origin of funds.

Global networks that include individuals from various countries, who purchase agents in all states of interest and exploit financial flows to launder assets, compel nations to work together.

The urgency is placed on public security, but, the threat is transnational. Considering fusion centers where police, gendarmerie, and all security institutions work coordinated at the national level and connect with organizations like Interpol to enhance the exchange of lessons learned appears as an opportunity to advance towards a comprehensive response to organized crime.

Kidnappings, drug trafficking, and contract killings that concern us so much are not monopolies of Chile. Others have already experienced them and have been forced to modernize their legislation and public policies. Leading them to build prisons solely for criminal leaders, separating them from their organizations, cutting off their communication, and prohibiting their families from purchasing or renting assets; working with younger individuals to prevent them from being recruited by mafias or to recover them if they have already been captured; or incorporating military instruments in certain activities.

In this context, information is fundamental. Public and private organizations should work together to ensure the flow of information that allows for the detection of suspicious operations and supports investigations.

In Chile, the threat of organized crime is a challenge, but its level of advancement is not comparable to that of countries like Ecuador or Mexico. There is still a window of opportunity to address the challenge, but for that, we require our authorities to have the political will and conviction to advance in this area. Incorporating the necessary urgencies into legislative discussions and pushing for cross-party agreements that transcend the current government are fundamental aspects. Learning from successful cases, such as the Italian example, provides opportunities to exchange lessons learned and leverage experiences that enrich state action.

However, the actions promoted at the national level must be accompanied by international work that strengthens Chile’s relationships and participation in multilateral instances. A country as open to the world as ours cannot be closed in terms of security; if it is, it becomes an opportunity for crime and a problem for those who must combat it. International relations are not limited to foreign policy, and the more we can learn from others, the more time we gain.

Pilar Lizana
Senior Researcher, AthenaLab

Source: El Líbero