Interventions in recent days in the Farallones Natural Park of Cali have the purpose of protecting this ecosystem and improving the environmental conditions.
In the last few hours, troops of Colombian National Army, with the support of the National Police, arrested by court order alias Barbas for crimes against the environment such as illegal mining exploitation, ecocide, environmental pollution and deforestation, activities that directly hit the biodiversity in the Farallones de Cali Natural Park.
Alias Barbas had engaged in illicit activities since 2020, opening sinkholes, using explosives and using mercury to separate gold in the Patequeso, La Martínez and El Feo mines. The arrested man was put into custody of the authorities for his prosecution.
This arrest is part of a series of interventions that Colombian National Army and the different authorities of the department have been conducting on illegal activities that are damaging biodiversity and the environment in the Farallones of Cali, a lung nestled in the Western Cordillera, which has four types of ecosystems and more than 196,000 hectares of great biological diversity; that is, a strategic environmental and water supply area essential for the Valle del Cauca.
One of them was carried out by Colombian National Army and the Police, with the support of the Colombian Air Force, with the technical closure of the La Laguna mines, with five sinkholes, and Zacarías, with 4 sinkholes, by controlled implosion. In the same way, the Anchicayá, Ferney and Diógenes mines were intervened, which illegally exploit and damage the Los Farallones mountains and significantly damage their ecosystem.
10 kg of urea and 8 kg of powdered sugar, used to make rudimentary explosives, and more than 12 kilos of an explosive with characteristics similar to Anfo were found by troops at the site. The controlled destruction and disablement of 7 granulators, an improvised housing complex for 12 people and countless industrial elements such as plastics, tents and hoses were carried out.
Given its importance, it is the responsibility of all State institutions to work in coordination to prevent and neutralize criminal operations against the environment such as illegal mining exploitation; that is why Colombian National Army, in fulfillment of its mission, is constant in the activities in this important national park and works firmly, jointly and inter-institutionally, for the protection and preservation of the environment.
Source: Third Division - National Army
