State weakness could hamper US bid to stem Amazon organized crime

BOGOTA/RIO DE JANEIRO Aug 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A new U.S.-backed initiative to disrupt illicit financial flows from nature crimes such as illegal logging and mining in the Amazon rainforest has been welcomed by security experts, but the effort could be hampered by lawlessness and state weakness.

Launched by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July, the plan is to boost cooperation in South America to tackle an illicit industry worth billions of dollars that is leaving a trail of destruction in the Amazon rainforest.