Mr. Vorndran joined the FBI as a special agent in 2004. He was first assigned to the Baltimore Field Office, where he worked violent crime, white-collar crime, and public corruption investigations. He also served on the SWAT team. In 2009, he transferred to the Philadelphia Field Office before traveling to Baghdad to serve as the assistant legal attaché and to lead the International Contract Corruption Task Force.

Mr. Vorndran returned to Philadelphia in 2010 and worked public corruption investigations. In 2012, he was promoted to supervisory special agent and transferred to an international terrorism operations section in the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters. In 2014, Mr. Vorndran returned to the Baltimore Field Office, this time working counterintelligence matters.

In 2016, Mr. Vorndran was appointed legal attaché in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He transferred to the Washington Field Office in 2019, when he was named an assistant special agent in charge of a criminal branch.

In 2020, Mr. Vorndran was named chief of the Human Intelligence Section of the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters. He was promoted in 2021 to deputy assistant director of the Support Branch of the Counterterrorism Division.

Mr. Vorndran earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Vorndran worked as an engineer in the private sector.

HLS.Today Source: FBI.GOV

Wildlife trafficking is a multibillion-dollar industry that involves the illegal trade of a wide range of species, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, pangolins, and rare birds. This trade is driven by a demand for exotic pets, traditional medicine, and luxury goods made from animal parts. It poses a serious threat to the survival of many species, and can also have detrimental effects on local ecosystems and economies.

Illegal logging, on the other hand, is the unauthorized cutting and harvesting of trees from protected forests. It is a major contributor to deforestation and habitat destruction, and can have serious consequences for the environment and local communities. In addition to damaging ecosystems and reducing biodiversity, illegal logging also undermines the rule of law and contributes to corruption and conflict.

Both wildlife trafficking and illegal logging are complex issues that require a coordinated response from governments, law enforcement agencies, and conservation organizations. In order to effectively combat these activities, it is important to address the underlying demand for illegal wildlife and timber products, as well as the economic and social drivers that contribute to these illegal trades.

One way to tackle the illegal wildlife trade is through targeted enforcement efforts that focus on disrupting the networks and supply chains involved in the trade. This can involve strengthening cross-border cooperation and intelligence sharing in airport security, as well as increasing penalties and sanctions for individuals and organizations involved in the trade.

In addition, governments and conservation organizations can also work to raise awareness and educate the public about the negative impacts of the illegal wildlife trade, in order to reduce demand for these products.

Illegal logging can be addressed through a combination of regulatory measures and law enforcement efforts. This can include strengthening forest governance and increasing oversight of logging operations, as well as implementing sanctions and penalties for individuals and companies involved in illegal logging. Additional efforts to promote sustainable and legal logging practices can help to reduce the incentives for illegal logging, while also supporting local communities and economies.

Overall, the illegal wildlife and timber trade are complex and pervasive issues that require a coordinated and comprehensive response. By addressing the demand for illegal products, strengthening law enforcement efforts, and promoting sustainable practices, it is possible to combat these activities and protect the world’s natural resources.

Thunder Operations enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

A joint INTERPOL – World Customs Organization (WCO) law enforcement operation has seen hundreds of arrests and the disruption of wildlife and timber crime networks globally.

Codenamed “Thunder 2022”, the month-long (3-30 October) operation brought together police, customs, financial intelligence units, wildlife and forestry enforcement agencies from 125 countries – the largest number of countries to take part in a Thunder operation since the series started in 2017.

Through routine inspections and targeted controls, hundreds of parcels, suitcases, vehicles, boats and cargo transporters were examined, often with the use of sniffer dogs and X-ray scanners.

Searches at land and air border checkpoints focused on illegally traded species protected by national legislation or CITES.

CITES is an international agreement to ensure that trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. All trade performed in breach of CITES is illegal.

Seizures ranged from timber to live animals, as well as animal parts, bushmeat, and derivatives such as clothing, beauty products, food items, traditional medicines and handicrafts.

Indian Customs at Chennai International Airport seize 1,204 reptiles (iguanas, pythons, monitor lizards and tortoises) declared as “ornamental fish’ and packed in cardboard boxes sent from Malaysia.

Thailand Suvarnabhumi International Airport: Customs detain a man traveling with five live radiated tortoises concealed in his clothes. Radiated tortoises are a critically endangered species.

Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport: Customs seize 81 Indian star tortoises hidden in food packaging packed in the luggage of a passenger traveling from India.

A total of 750 birds were seized during Operation Thunder 2022, including here in Pakistan where authorities intercept the smuggling of young birds of prey.

Through routine inspections and targeted controls, dozens of timber transporters were examined throughout Mongolia as part of Thunder 2022 global operations.

A powerful global alliance

Although operational results are still being reported, Operation Thunder 2022 has so far seen almost 2,200 seizures and the identification of 934 suspects, triggering a series of worldwide arrests and investigations linked to illegal trading, processing, exporting and importing of protected wildlife and forestry products.

In addition to the identification of 141 companies suspected of engaging in illegal sales, total worldwide seizures of protected animals and plants so far include:

Wildlife:

119 big cats and other felines

34 primates, 136 primate body parts

25 rhino horns

9 pangolins, 389 kg pangolin scales and derivatives

750 birds, more than 450 bird parts

With seizures reported in units, or total kg, according to national police practices, results also include:

Almost 780 kg and 516 pieces elephant ivory, and 27 elephant body parts

1,795 reptiles and almost half a tone reptile parts and derivative products

4,337 and 2,813 kg marine products, including corals, eels and sea cucumbers

1,190 turtles and tortoises, 1,304 units and 8 kg body parts

More than a tone and 17,081 units other wildlife, parts and derivatives.

Plants and timber:

47,28 m3 rosewood and 17,163 pieces

Almost 47,000 m3 and 6,764 pieces other timber

710 cacti, 125 and 1,706 kg orchids

Almost 3.5 tones and 7,815 units other plants

More than five tones and 3,945 units plant derivatives.

In Southern Africa, Namibian authorities intercepted large amounts of timber before they were smuggled into the region, with Angola arresting a citizen of the Asian region attempting to travel to Asia with rhino horns and ivory ornaments, and Malawi authorities seizing elephant tusks at the home of a man with Asian citizenship.  

In Asia, Thailand reported several seizures of tortoises from East Africa and hundreds of live reptiles from Europe, whilst Indonesia made two large seizures of timber bound for the Middle East and Asia. India seized some 1,200 reptiles (iguanas, pythons, monitor lizards and tortoises) declared as “ornamental fish’ and packed in cardboard boxes.

With Europe a growing destination region for protected wildlife, France intercepted reptiles from Central Africa hidden in luggage, Germany intercepted tiger skin amulets in a parcel from Asia and the UK seized several ivory pieces after investigating a man selling wildlife on an e-commerce platform.

Illustrating the commitment of the American continent to protecting its natural heritage, Costa Rica arrested an individual in possession of hundreds of protected wildlife species and Peru issued an INTERPOL Red Notice against a timber trafficker. Parrots, iguana eggs, coral, crocodile leather products, caviar and shark meat were seized in several US international airports.

Several countries reported seizures of garments and accessories made of reptile skins.

Mozambique authorities intercept elephant tusks being smuggled across national borders. A total of 780 kg and 516 pieces of elephant ivory were intercepted globally during Operation Thunder 2022.

Argentina police authorities rescue one of the 34 primates seized from traffickers globally during Operation Thunder 2022.

Operation Thunder 2022 saw some 2,200 seizures and the identification of 934 suspects, including this pet shop owner in Chile suspected of engaging in the illegal sale of protected species.

Young Rhea birds are intercepted by Peruvian authorities.

Through routine inspections and targeted controls, Peruvian authorities inspect hundreds of parcels, suitcases, vehicles, boats and cargo transporters throughout the country during Operation Thunder 2022.

Operation Thunder 2022 brought together police, customs, financial intelligence units, wildlife and forestry enforcement agencies from 125 countries.

A sample of protected species intercepted in the US during Operation Thunder 2022.

A CITES inspector in Belgium checks a flamingo ring identification as part of Operation Thunder 2022.

Almost 3.5 tones (7,815 units) of protected plant species were seized during Operation Thunder 2022, including here in Tbilisi, Georgia.

With Europe a growing destination region for protected wildlife and plants, UK agencies work together to intercept the illegal import and export of CITES-listed species.

Norway customs seize 13 undeclared protected parrots concealed amongst declared birds.

“Thunder operations are important to global security because timber and wildlife trafficking are not just conservation issues – officers lose their lives every year, livelihoods are destroyed, diseases are spread, governments weakened and entire economies destroyed. This is because the huge financial gains to be made attract serious organized crime and terrorist militants who grease the wheels of crime with heavy doses of corruption,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

“Large scale cross-border operations like Operation Thunder 2022 are as much about putting criminals behind bars as about raising public awareness on what species or products people can or cannot buy, sell, or take from the wild.  Global multi-stakeholder cooperation is key to effectively tackling transnational criminal networks, from seizure to arrest to prosecution, as with the data collected, customs administrations can refine their risk management and strategies,” said WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya.

Intelligence-led field operations

Customs and police units shared wildlife and timber trafficking intelligence both ahead and during operations, enabling field officers to identify and target trafficking hotspots, with an emphasis on land and airport border points as well as wildlife parks.

Known criminals, particularly INTERPOL Red Notice fugitives, were identified ahead of operations, along with companies used to facilitate wildlife and timber crime.

Customs and police contribute to conservation efforts by gathering and delivering admissible evidence that supports investigations and prosecutions.

Coordinated jointly by the WCO and INTERPOL, with the backing of the CITES Secretariat and the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime, Thunder Operations are funded by the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships, Norway’s International Climate and Forest  Initiative,  the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the US Agency for International Development.

HLS.Today Source: INTERPOL.INT

UK Turns to Drone Power

The UK has reduced coal power generation significantly since 2013 by increasing use of natural gas, nuclear power and renewable sources. Power is distributed throughout the UK by the National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) via 4,000 miles of overhead high-voltage lines carried on 21,900 steel pylons. With another 330 substations to also look after, the infrastructure for power distribution in UK always has required a huge maintenance effort. This picture is likely reflected in the power distribution networks of most countries around the world.

Helicopters have carried a large portion of the workload to enable inspection of cables and insulators, with additional necessary manual inspections taking significant effort to gain access and analyze data. Helicopter time is expensive, and manual inspection processes and data analysis are tedious and time consuming.

Drones are being used for power-line inspection — flown manually by onsite operators — by many organizations in several countries around the world, including by FPL in Florida. But the real reduction in time and effort comes from automating the whole process, and gathering data that provides the detail necessary to assure defects are detected and operational integrity is maintained. The automation of data analysis and generation of useful reports is another area which could yield major savings, and bring rapid focus to areas needing immediate corrective action.

Hence, a 12-month trial is being undertaken involving ultimate approval by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) multiple drone operations. Artificial intelligent (AI) analysis tools are being developed to determine critical changes in collected visual, lidar and positioning inspection data that might herald deterioration in pylon or other infrastructure components.

During an initial test in Nottingham, an autonomous drone was dispatched with minimal instructions. It was able to find its inspection target and complete the programmed inspection in a few minutes. A manual inspection could take up to an hour for the same task. If things go well, it is not impossible to be able to project multiple drones operating with minimal human control, taking on huge swaths of pylons, cabling, insulators and other elements during regular inspections, saving a lot of time and money.

The trials so far have also included remote inspection of the Sellafield nuclear waste decommissioning site, rail infrastructure and a telecommunications network along with investigations towards transport of medical supplies.

Sellafield is where spent fuel ends up from the UK’s 31 nuclear power plants. Also, nuclear waste from reactors in neighboring European countries is reprocessed here. Nuclear waste is processed into 50-ton concrete blocks and spent fuel is “vitrified” into huge chunks of glass, which are encased in an outside metal jacket. Both processes minimize any emitted radiation and allow the contents to safely  cool over long term. The staff uses robots inside the facility to remotely dismantle contaminated areas and load material into 55-gallon drums, which might be further processed by robot crushing machines. No one has any real idea how all this nuclear waste could be permanently disposed of, but it’s possible most will ultimately be buried in the ground.

This type of power might seem a “green” boon for humanity, but in a somewhat countrified area on the West Coast of England and in other similar sites around the world, nuclear waste disposal is costly and very, very long-term. The half-life of uranium is between 159,200 years and 4.5 billion years. Monitoring the waste could be a long-term task for drones, such as those now used to detect radiation inside the Fukushima nuclear plant. Certainly, there’s plenty of time to evolve improved drone detection capability for radiation monitoring.

Greece Employs Counter-UAS against Turkish Incursions

On a defense-related note, apparently the long-running rivalry between Turkey and Greece is, unfortunately, continuing. It seems that Turkey has been repeatedly flying its Baykar-TB2 surveillance drone over Greek islands, perhaps to monitor the movements of Greek warships or island defense installations. And Greece is a little bit more than peeved.

Having established a defense-related relationship with Israel in 2021, Greece has brought Israeli drone defense systems to the Greek islands, installing a “veritable umbrella against enemy unmanned aerial vehicles.” The Israeli system has a number of moving parts: detect and identify; generate related alerts; a directional jamming system that can disable drones in flight (presumably by jamming GPS or the control link); and a laser that can lock onto a small target and, if manually fired, can apparently destroy an intruder drone.

Because of the directional, narrow beamwidth of the jammer, Rafael claims that the system can be activated within crowded civilian airspace without affecting the navigation of other users. Good news for Greece and their popular, attractive Greek island tourist destinations.

UAV Defense Contractors Struggle — with Each Other

Meanwhile, current economic uncertainty is apparently impacting at least a couple of UAV defense contractors: Boeing/Insitu and Orbital UAV. The two made news when Orbital, as an Australian public company (ASX symbol OEC), had to halt trading. The company was then able to reinstate trading largely because of news of cancellation of a development/production agreement with Insitu.

Apparently, Orbital has previously been delivering two-engine versions to Insitu and was contracted to develop and deliver a third derivative engine. However, Insitu had to scale back Orbital’s work in February, given its sales of the popular ScanEagle and other UAVs may have fallen off in recent months.

This has affected Orbital’s revenue forecast for the year. The company now expects to lose AUD $7 million for the year. It has subsequently prepared a claim under the supply agreement for Insitu’s Termination for Convenience of AUD $1.8 million in costs incurred in the development of the third engine program, which Insitu/Boeing disputes. There will obviously be some wrangling, but hopefully both parties will settle things amicably so as not to damage their ongoing relationship for supply of the existing two engine types.

To sum up, for this month we have a trial in the UK which will hopefully lead to significant savings in effort and costs for ongoing power infrastructure inspections, along with some background on UK nuclear waste disposal. Greece is bristling and defending against unwanted Turkish drone overflight using Israeli C-UAS systems. Finally, there’s somewhat negative news for the Orbital UAV engine and Insitu ScanEagle relationship — apparently, not everything in the UAV garden is roses.

Source: GPS World

In light of these circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds the public that sites that provide emergency response and relief are considered protected areas. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water, or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones.

At the request of FEMA or local and state authorities, ICE and CBP may help conduct search and rescue, air traffic deconfliction and public safety missions. ICE and CBP provide emergency assistance to individuals regardless of their immigration status. DHS officials do not and will not pose as individuals providing emergency-related information as part of any enforcement activities.

DHS also encourages all eligible individuals to apply for and seek out assistance. Please go to https://www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/forms for instructions on how to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

DHS is aware that some survivors may fear applying for FEMA assistance due to their immigration status. If you or a member of your household applies for FEMA assistance, FEMA does not collect information regarding your immigration status and does not proactively provide your personal information to ICE or CBP for immigration enforcement. Please see, FACT SHEET: Citizenship Status and Eligibility for Disaster Assistance FAQ | FEMA.gov and Guidelines for Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas Memo | Homeland Security (dhs.gov).

If you believe that the emergency event may affect your U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application, petition, or immigration status, please contact USCIS or go to https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations for more information.

DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of the wildfires is able to do so regardless of their immigration status. DHS carries out its mission without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, or political associations, and in compliance with law and policy.

Source: DHS.GOV

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Slovenia Defence Market Size and Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Key Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2022-27’, notes that Slovenia is heavily reliant upon its membership in international organisations such as NATO for its security. To continue to benefit from the collective defence offered by membership of NATO, Slovenia must remain an active and engaged member of the organisation. Meeting the 2% of GDP target is a good way to do so. 2022 was also the first year that Slovenia met NATO’s other spending target, which is where 20% of a country’s defence budget should be allocated to acquisitions.

Madeline Wild, Associate Defence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced states across Europe to reassess their defence spending. Slovenia’s defence market is small, with current spending levels restricting Slovenia’s ability to bolster its defensive strength due to the small acquisition budget on offer. However, forecasted growth means that long-term investments into major platforms can be carried out due to payments being split over a multiyear timeframe.”

The country’s growing defence spending is forecast to outpace GDP increases dramatically, rising from 1.5% of GDP being spent on defence in 2022 to 2.2% in 2027. This growth aligns Slovenia with its NATO allies, who have also announced budgetary growth to meet the threat posed by Russia.

Slovenia can also strengthen its relationships with NATO allies through procurement programs. Industrial collaboration can be beneficial regarding what it can offer politically and regarding the provision of military capabilities. Joint procurement programs can help states strengthen their relationships and provide new channels for cooperation and communication.

Wild adds: “One of the major ongoing procurement programs within Slovenia is the acquisition of a C-27J aircraft. This program is part of a larger government-to-government agreement with Italy and will provide Slovenia with greater levels of independence in the aerospace domain. Currently, Slovenia is heavily reliant on its neighbours for air-based capabilities, but the acquisition of a C-27J is a significant step towards meeting Slovenia’s requirement for transport aircraft.”

Source: GlobalData

The Court of Auditors is sounding the alarm about preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In a confidential 76-page report, revealed by Le Canard enchaîné and of which AFP has read, the Court insists on the “to anticipate a general and massive mobilisation of material and human resources to ensure the security of the Games”. A final version of this report is expected by the end of the year.

Deeming it “imperative” to accelerate the pace to meet the “considerable” security challenge represented by this event, the Court of Auditors lists all the shortcomings to be taken into account: hospital capacity, public safety, health, terrorist risks, cyber risks, problem acceptance of the games by the population…

Two years before the deadline, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron will meet on Monday, July 25 at the Elysée Palace with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in particular to take stock.

Ensure the security of the opening ceremony

The Court obviously evokes the opening ceremony, unprecedented. Ardently desired by Emmanuel Macron and the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, it is designed as a great river parade on the Seine and accessible to the public. It was planned in the initial project armada of 200 boats and 600,000 spectators. Unsurprisingly, the report suggests reducing the fleet, conducting simulations ahead of the ceremony and adjusting the schedule of events on the day and the day after the opening ceremony to “relieve the pressure on the security forces “.

“We are extremely humbled by the security challenges raised by the organization of these Olympic Games and we are working in close collaboration with all the services concerned,” the organizing committee of the Olympic Games told AFP.

Reduce Torch Relay Route

Another subject of concern, the safety of the Olympic torch relay, scheduled from mid-April to July 26, 2024, a journey of 80 days for a course of approximately 12,000 km. The Court notes that the route could be reduced and recommends entrusting the responsibility to the gendarmerie, given its experience in securing the Tour de France.

Another salient point raised by the Court of Auditors, the pre-report pleads for a “global action plan” in terms of cybersecurity, because of the “massive development risks”. To prevent drone attacks, it is suggested the establishment of a “low-altitude 3D bubble to secure the airspace around sites and places of celebrations”. “There are a certain number of recommendations in this report on which we are already working”, underlined the Paris 2024 committee which already ensured in June 2022, to make security issues a priority.

Source: FranceTV

The global trade in illicit pharmaceuticals is a vast and lucrative crime area – valued at USD 4.4 billion – which attracts the involvement of organised crime groups around the world.

Over just one week (23-30 June), 94 INTERPOL member countries representing every continent launched a coordinated crackdown on illicit online pharmacies in Operation Pangea XV.

Globally, law enforcement made more than 7,800 seizures of illicit and misbranded medicines and healthcare products, totalling more than 3 million individual units.

During the week, law enforcement:

• Investigated more than 4,000 web links, mainly from social media platforms and messaging apps
• Shut down or remove more than 4,000 web links containing adverts for illicit products
• Inspected nearly 3,000 packages and 280 postal hubs at airports, borders and mail distribution or cargo mail centres
• Opened more than 600 new investigations and issued more than 200 search warrants

While results are still coming in from countries, enforcement actions have already disrupted the activities of at least 36 organised crime groups.

“Selling counterfeit or illicit medicines online may seem like a low-level offence, but the consequences for victims are potentially life-threatening,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

“The illicit supply chains and business models behind the counterfeit medicine trade are inherently international, meaning that law enforcement has to work together across borders in order to effectively protect consumers.”

Cross-border crimes

Nearly half (48 per cent) of the packages inspected by law enforcement during the operation were found to contain either illicit or falsified medicines.

Counterfeit or unauthorised erectile dysfunction medicines comprised roughly 40 per cent of all products seized. Law enforcement in Australia, Argentina, Malaysia and the United States also seized more than 317,000 unauthorised COVID-19 test kits. The US seizures alone are estimated to be worth nearly USD 3 million.

The global trade in illicit pharmaceuticals is a vast and lucrative crime area

Illicit health products seized in Estonia

Illicit medical products seized in Costa Rica

Fraudulent products can threaten consumers’ health instead of healing them

Illicit medical products seized by law enforcement in Chile

Illicit health products seized in Botswana

Illicit medical products seized by law enforcement in Italy

Illicit health products identified by law enforcement in Iran

Criminals will stop at nothing to make a profit, including selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices despite the dangers they cause

Criminals have sought to cash in on the COVID-19 pandemic, selling illicit or fraudulent masks

Fake erectile dysfunction tablets seized by law enforcement in Switzerland

Globally, law enforcement undertook more than 7,800 seizures of illicit and falsified medicines

Illicit medical products uncovered by law enforcement in Panama

The United States seized more than 317,000 unauthorised COVID-19 test kits, worth nearly USD 3 million

The trade-in illicit medicines extends far beyond any one country’s borders and is a significant global threat. Often, products are manufactured in one country and shipped to another, while advertisements for the medicines are hosted on websites based in many different countries.

In Malaysia alone, law enforcement identified more than 2,000 websites selling or advertising counterfeit or illegally-obtained pharmaceuticals.

Social media networks and messaging apps are also used for advertising counterfeit and illicit medicines, with Operation Pangea XV identifying more than 1,200 such ads across all major platforms.

“Two decades worth of experience has shown criminals will stop at nothing to make a profit, including selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices despite dangers they cause,” said Jim Mancuso, Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in the United States.

“The US is committed to working closely with our international law enforcement partners and the private sector to keep counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices out of the global supply chain, as well as taking down transnational criminal organizations who profit from these scams. The results of Operation Pangea XV are a warning to transnational criminal organizations that law enforcement agencies around the world will do whatever it takes to protect public health and safety,” Mr Mancuso added.

Within the framework of Operation Pangea XV, INTERPOL was supported by Europol, the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme, health regulatory agencies and the Pharmaceutical Security Institute.

INTERPOL’s Illicit Goods and Global Health Programme works with partners to dismantle criminal networks and reduce the risk that fake and illicit pharmaceuticals pose to public health. Learn more about our vital work to keep people safe on our website at the links below.

Source: INTERPOL

More precisely,  the Armed Forces have to be involved in the prevention and response to fires in the summer of 2022, by participating on the fire safety patrols on a 24-hours basis. These patrols will be carried out without the participation of the personnel of the Fire Service or the Hellenic Police as happened in previous years. Hence, PFEARFU poses many questions to the political leadership on the issue, as to whether military personnel will be compensated for working overtime.

Source: EUROMIL

Forecasts by Platform (Ground-based: Fixed, Ground-based: Mobile, Hand-held, UAV-based, Other Plant Process), by Technology (Radar Technology, Radio-frequency RF, Infrared (IR) Technology, Acoustic Technology, Electro-optical (EO), Combined Sensors), by Interdiction (RF Jamming, GNSS Jamming, Laser & Projectile, Collision Drone, Combined Interdiction Elements), by Vertical (Military & Defence, Commercial, Homeland Security) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Recovery Scenarios

Counter Drone Systems (C-UAS) Have Been Utilized Most Commonly for Base Defence So Far

All three terms—counter-UAS, C-UAS, and counter-UAV technology—mean the same thing. Counter-drone technology is a system that can detect or keeps an eye on unmanned aircraft. Companies are turning to cutting-edge technology in the counter-drone technology market to keep ahead of the competition. As security concerns rise, drones are projected to endanger civilian and military groups. Defense agencies in several countries have substantially increased their spending on C-UAS counter drone application system in response to an increase in concerns from terrorist groups like ISIS and others. C-UAS counter drone technologies have so far been most frequently used as an addition to existing weapons like anti-mortar systems and reconnaissance platforms for base defence. Additionally, convoy and ground unit protection systems that are portable and mobile are becoming more and more common. Up until now, the technology behind counter drone systems has mainly been used to safeguard the airspace surrounding airports, as well as VIP protection, activities like parties and sporting competitions, and anti-smuggling operations.

Anti-Drone Interdiction Measures Can Be Harmful

Many anti-drone interdiction tactics, if not all of them, can be damaging in certain circumstances. Drones whose flight is interrupted by kinetic means run the risk of striking the earth severely. Even net-based systems with a parachute to bring the captured drone safely to the ground can be risky if the parachute malfunctions or the interception takes place at a low altitude. Interdiction elements must be exceedingly exact to target a moving drone; otherwise, bystanders may be in danger. Long-range signalling pathways like lasers and powerful microwaves could present a serious threat to aircraft flying over a targeted drone. On the other hand, jamming systems can impair nearby legal communications links; for instance, if used at an airport, they could impair air traffic control operations. The use of GPS jamming or spoofing technologies is particularly problematic in situations when other organisations depend on accurate GPS navigation (for example, manned aircraft at an airport).

What Questions Should You Ask before Buying a Market Research Report?

• How is the counter-UAV market evolving?
• What is driving and restraining the counter-UAV market?
• How will each counter-UAV submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032?
• How will the market shares for each counter-UAV submarket develop from 2022 to 2032?
• What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032?
• Will leading counter-UAV markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?
• How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032?
• Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?
• What are the counter-UAV projects for these leading companies?
• How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implications of counter-UAV projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?
• Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the counter-UAV market?
• Where is the counter-UAV market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?
• What are the best investment options for new product and service lines?
• What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite?

You need to discover how this will impact the counter-UAV market today, and over the next 10 years:

• Our 520-page report provides 360 tables and 355 charts/graphs exclusively to you.
• The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them – NOW.
• It contains in-depth global, regional and national sales and growth analysis.
• It highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors.

This report tells you TODAY how the counter-UAV market will develop in the next 10 years, and in line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years.

Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects

• In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.
• You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.
• Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising counter-UAV prices and recent developments.

This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, “V”, “L”, “W” and “U” are discussed in this report.

Segments Covered in the Report

Market Segment by Vertical

• Military & Defense
• Commercial
• Homeland Security

Market Segment by Interdiction

• RF Jamming
• GNSS Jamming
• Laser & Projectile
• Collision Drone
• Combined Interdiction Elements

Market Segment by Technology

• Radar Technology
• Radio-frequency (RF)
• Infrared (IR) Technology
• Acoustic Technology
• Electro-optical (EO)
• Combined Sensors

Market Segment by Platform

• Ground-based: Fixed
• Ground-based: Mobile
• Hand-held
• UAV-based

In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for four regional and 20 leading national markets:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• France
• Italy
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• Turkey
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Iran
• Israel
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Counter-UAV Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies’ operations.

Leading companies and the potential for market growth

• AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc.
• Airbus SE
• BAE Systems plc
• Blighter Surveillance Systems
• CACI International Inc (CACI)
• Dedrone
• DroneShield Limited
• Elbit Systems Ltd.
• General Dynamics Corporation
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Leonardo SpA
• Liteye Systems, Inc.
• Lockheed Martin Corp.
• Moog Inc.
• Northrop Grumman Corp.
• RADA Electronic Industries Ltd.
• Raytheon Technologies Corp
• Saab AB
• Thales Group
• The Boeing Company

Overall world revenue for Counter-UAV Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$1,320 million in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.

How will the Counter-UAV Market, 2022 to 2032 report help you?

In summary, our 520+ page report provides you with the following knowledge:

• Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Counter-UAV Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for vertical, interdiction, technology, platform and company size, each forecast at a global and regional level – discover the industry’s prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues.
• Revenue forecasts to 2032 for four regional and 20 key national markets – See forecasts for the Counter-UAV Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies.
• Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market – including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Counter-UAV Market, 2022 to 2032.

Source: Globe NewsWire

The Olympic Games, surveillance accelerators

The Olympic Games have long been an opportunity for an intensification of population surveillance tools. This was the case for Beijing in 2008, with a massive deployment of cameras in the streets and in public transport. But also in Rio de Janeiro where from 2010, in preparation for the 2016 Olympics, the IBM company took advantage of this opportunity to develop its Integrated Operation Center, “Command and Coordination Center”. This command center aimed to aggregate data from the municipality, communities, public transport, weather, etc., with the aim of obtaining real-time information and building predictive models for managing the town. This is the beginning of the fantasy of remote control of the city.

Finally, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – which finally took place in the summer of 2021 – are positioned as the Olympic Games that have used the most technological gadgets (autonomous cars, robots, etc.) and the first uses of facial recognition. The latter was intended to filter access to certain places (by scanning the faces of athletes, journalists, etc.) using a system provided by the Japanese company NEC and the French Atos (also present at the Olympics 2024). Several associations had thus denounced, in July 2021, the danger of biometric surveillance deployed in Tokyo. If in Tokyo facial recognition has been implemented on an audience strongly limited by the health crisis, the Paris 2024 Olympics would be the first major event to deploy this type of device on millions of visitors.

Here are major events becoming security accelerators and transformers. They make it possible to bring certain hitherto illegal technologies and practices into common law, thus breaking the lock that was blocking their massification. In the middle of the vote, the Drone 2 law should be placed in the context of the future Olympic Games: the Ministry of the Interior has already purchased 600 drones and would like to be able to use them for the Olympic Games.

Industrialists and government hand in hand

The French government does not intend to miss its 2024 meeting either. Michel Cadot, the interministerial delegate for the Games, thus considers that “the question of security is a priority” when, for his part, the prefect Pierre Leutaud underlines that ” technological innovations will be a major asset”. Last September, Jean-Michel Mis, MP for the majority, submitted an entire report to the Prime Minister aimed at the legalization of these new surveillance devices, pushing for the adoption of a law facilitating biometric surveillance for the Games.

It is even clearer on the side of the security industry, who have come together in a committee called “GICAT” – “Grouping of French defense and land and air-land security industries” – a pressure lobby on the public authorities aimed at facilitating the deployment of their monitoring devices. Its delegate, Gérard Lacroix, has no problem emphasizing that the Olympic Games will be an essential issue for French companies and that he intends to make parliamentarians understand the need to “change certain texts” that are too restrictive. Understand: the texts that protect freedoms.

Other lobbies, those of the “Comité Filière Industrielle de sécurité” for “COFIS” (a sort of institutional link between the main security industries and the government) and the “Safe Cluster” (a “competitive cluster for security and safety sectors”), both directly at the origin of a lobby site “I innovate for the Olympics”.

Finally, it should be noted that the State has already begun to financially support these projects. As we wrote here, the National Research Agency (ANR) has already funded several million euros for experiments in automated video surveillance (surveillance of social networks, suspicious movements, facial recognition), even though the most of these projects are purely illegal.

Upstream preparations: crazy experiments

The Olympic Games have been preparing for a long time and the Rugby World Cup in 2023 seems to be looming to be a kind of security dress rehearsal. But before that, we must develop the technologies, train the agents who will use them and anticipate the reactions of the public. It is first of all a question of financing, of experimenting in real size with illegal technologies. While the legislative framework does not authorize in any case – for the moment – ​​this type of processing of biometric data, manufacturers and public authorities go through the very convenient process of “experiments”. These, by their temporal and spatial framing, would make surveillance (and the violation of the law) more “acceptable” – this is moreover the whole angle taken by Jean-Michel Mis in his techno-police report.

Thus, from 2020, experiments were planned and confirmed in France, in particular to try facial recognition devices. In Metz, in 2020, a facial recognition device was tested at the entrance to the stadium, drawing criticism from the CNIL (for the illegality of the project) and from supporters.

This was also the case during the Roland Garros tournament in the fall of 2020, where the French Tennis Federation (FFT), in partnership with the Strategic Committee for the “Security Industries” sector and the JOP 2024 brand team, hosted several experiments, as announced in the Senate.

Municipalities take the opportunity to join the security agenda

Beyond these experiments, several local authorities are getting organized to fundamentally transform their security arsenal. This is the case of Élancourt, which will host certain Olympic Games competitions and which signed a contract in 2019 with the company GENETEC to experiment with new types of video surveillance. The city’s objective is even to become a “showcase” for the company, with a new police station for 2024.

This is also the case of Saint-Denis, where a brand new urban supervision center (CSU) was created in 2021. The technical park, now equipped with 93 cameras, will be expanded to reach 400 cameras in 2024 for the Olympic Games. And elected officials are already planning to equip video surveillance with artificial intelligence to automate the detection of offenses.

Thus, elected officials are taking the opportunity to renew their surveillance systems and accelerate the installation of technologies, surfing on the security wave.

Fighting against the Olympic Games and the world they embody

For a long time, the Olympic Games have raised reluctance and protests from the inhabitants of the cities hosting the events, cracking the perfectly polished image produced by the IOC and the metropolises. Over the years, struggles against the Olympic Games and the world they represent have multiplied and been coordinated around the world.

In France, the NO to the 2024 Olympics and Saccage 2024 collectives emphasize the social, ecological and security plunder of the 2024 Olympics. a solarium attached to a training pool. A land occupation had even been launched. Until the expulsion of the activists and the destruction of these gardens, a few days before part of the project was declared illegal by the courts. Events are organized, as here, in Aubervilliers, on October 16, to face the Olympic aggression whether it is the case of Aubervilliers, other cities or more generally questions of surveillance (read the forum “No to Big Brother Olympic”).

Conclusion

Next week will open in Paris the Milipol exhibition, one of the largest international internal security exhibitions. An international meeting of repression. The cream of French technology will be exhibited: Thalès, Evitech, Two I, Atos and Idémia. On the program in particular, a return to the G7 in Biarritz, considered a model to follow in terms of managing major events. Inspiration for the 2024 Olympics?

Source: La Quadrature

The Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018 (codified at 6 U.S.C. § 124n) provides DOJ with a tailored grant of authority for authorised DOJ components such as the FBI to take appropriate and lawful action against unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems that threaten the safety and security of the public, covered facilities and assets, and DOJ missions, consistent with the Constitution, applicable federal laws and regulations, and department policy. 

“Drones are an amazing technology that offer great commercial promise, but they also present a serious challenge to ensuring public safety,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen.  “As events return during and after this global pandemic, we will be out in force where needed, collaborating with our partners from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, to protect the public from unsafe, careless, or malicious drone operators.”

From Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020, the FBI has provided counter-UAS support at dozens of events, including national-level sporting events such as Super Bowl LIV in Miami, the 2019 World Series, and the 2020 Rose Bowl Game, as well as at other major events that draw large crowds like Washington, D.C.’s A Capitol Fourth and New York City’s New Year’s celebration.  During this period, the FBI has detected over 200 UAS unlawfully flying in national security airspace restricted by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for such events and has taken corrective action. 

“The FBI is heavily invested in ensuring public safety at special events, and we are engaged, with our federal, state, and local partners, to ensure UAS do not pose a threat to these events,” said FBI Executive Assistant Director Terry Wade.  “The FBI remains committed to identifying, investigating, and disrupting the careless or criminal use of UAS.” 

Operators who violate the national security-related flight restrictions put in place to protect these events risk facing criminal charges.  This past fiscal year authorities arrested and charged drone operators with violating a national defense airspace Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46307.  For example, in the lead up to Super Bowl LIV, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida charged two drone operators with flying drones in national defense airspace. 

In addition, the FBI has seized about a dozen UAS based on violations of flight restrictions at events during fiscal year 2020.

The department is particularly committed to preventing and prosecuting the increased use of drones for criminal purposes.  Last October, Eric Lee Brown was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison after attempting to use a drone to deliver marijuana to a state prison in Georgia.  In March of this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced charges against two men for conspiring to smuggle contraband into a federal correctional facility using drones.  These two cases illustrate the department’s effort to prevent, deter, and prosecute the use of drones to smuggle contraband into federal and state prisons. 

The department is also committed to prosecuting drone operators who use unmanned aircraft to facilitate violence.  The five-year prison sentence imposed last month on Jason Muzzicato, who used an unregistered drone to drop improvised explosive devices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, among other offenses, reflects this commitment.

On Sept. 28, 2020 the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon announced that two individuals were charged with flying a drone within national defense airspace during civil disorder events in Portland, Oregon. 

The department has expanded its use of counter-UAS technology and anticipates that, if violations still occur, its prosecutions will continue to increase.  As UAS become more common in our everyday lives, and offer many potential benefits, the need to operate UAS responsibly is paramount.

Source: US Justice