ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 22, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 22, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Explosion in Colombia Kills and Injures Three Following Clashes Between Police and Indigenous Protesters
• Ten Members of Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico Found Dead in Connection to U.S. Arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada
• South Korea Buys U.S. Apache Helicopters as Threat from North Korea Increases

Explosion in Colombia Kills and Injures Three Following Clashes Between Police and Indigenous Protesters

On August 21, 2024, Colombian riot police confronted and attempted to remove indigenous protesters who had blocked the Pan-American Highway with mounds of dirt and burning barricades. The protesters are affiliated with Indigenous Authorities of Southwestern Colombia or Autoridades Indígenas del Suroccidente Colombiano (AISO), and were blocking the Pan-American Highway to demand the Colombian government recognize them as official representatives of the indigenous community. Fighting broke out between the protesters and police following police's attempt to remove them and clear the highway. Following the fighting, an explosive device went off and killed one protester and injured three other people, one of them a police officer. As of most recent reporting, the origin of the device is unknown. On August 20, indigenous protesters affiliated with the organization Indigenous Authorities of Southwestern Colombia or Autoridades Indígenas del Suroccidente Colombiano (AISO) blocked the Pan-American Highway between Cali and Popayán with burning barricades. The reason for the protest as cited by AISO is that the federal government failed to recognize them as traditional indigenous authorities, and have stated their intentions to continue blocking the highway until dialogue is established with the president's office.

Ten Members of Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico Found Dead in Connection to U.S. Arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada

On August 20, the Sinaloa state government reported that ten members of the Sinaloa Cartel affiliated with Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada had been executed. The executions are believed to be related to the July, 2024 arrest of Zambada by U.S. law enforcement in El Paso, Texas. According to statements from investigators, it is believed that the killings are part of an internal power struggle within the Sinaloa Cartel. Researchers at both the Colegio de Jalisco and the Security and Justice Observatory of the University of Guadalajara have voiced concerns that it is possible there will be further violence in Sinaloa as part of the restructuring following Zambada's arrest.

South Korea Buys U.S. Apache Helicopters as Threat from North Korea Increases

The U.S. State Department approved the sale of 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters as well as related logistics and program support to South Korea at an estimated cost of USD3.5 billion. South Korea is increasing defense investments and spending in the event of a conflict with North Korea, which has recently said that unification between the Koreas can only be achieved violently. This contradicts years of rhetoric suggesting unification will be peaceful.