In the heart of Cauca, the Military Forces dismantled four drug laboratories

2024-08-19 16:29:24

A coordinated military operation in the west of the Cauca department has resulted in the location and destruction of four drug processing laboratories, which were estimated to have the capacity to produce more than six tons of alkaloids per month.

These production centres, controlled by the criminal structure ‘Jaime Martínez’, were located in a remote and almost inaccessible region. due to the constant flooding that hits the area for much of the year.

The operation was carried out by units of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the National Army in conjunction with the Colombian Navy.The area covered by the intervention includes the municipalities of López de Micay, Guapi and Timbiquí, sectors known for their dense vegetation and the difficulties in accessing them by land, characteristics that had been exploited by criminals to hide their illegal activities.

During the raid, troops seized more than four thousand gallons of liquid inputs and nearly 500 kilograms of solid inputs.essential for the production of coca paste. In addition, specialized tools and equipment for processing the alkaloid were seized, the total value of which, including the destroyed laboratories, exceeds 2.7 billion pesos.

You may be interested in: Modifications to the Compulsory Military Service in Colombia

Four cocaine laboratories of the Cauca EMC have been completely destroyed. They disguise the simple trafficking as a political struggle. I hope that all indigenous leaders do not give in to this dirty money and prioritize the autonomy of the Cauca indigenous organization.

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) August 19, 2024

The location of these laboratories was not a coincidence. LThe criminals strategically selected this region, where constant rains cause flooding that persists most of the year.creating natural barriers that hinder access by the authorities and confuse any attempt to locate them. This geographical factor has been key to the temporary success of their clandestine operations.

Sin However, the destruction of these laboratories represents a hard blow for the criminal structure ‘Jaime Martínez’weakening their logistical and financial capacity. The Military Forces have announced that they will continue their deployment in the region, with the aim of dismantling more facilities of this type and capturing members of the criminal structures that continue to operate in the area. This offensive is part of a broader strategy to eradicate the illicit economies of drug trafficking in Colombia, which remains a priority for national authorities.

Successful operation against drug trafficking, deforestation and land invasion in the Chibiriquete National Natural Park: two drug laboratories for processing coca leaves were destroyed, five sections of roads and five illegal bridges were disabled,… pic.twitter.com/INbuKtK0Vs

— Mindefense (@mindefense) August 18, 2024

You can read: Governor of Tolima demands immediate action after drone attacks by dissidents