A sustained operation by Colombian National Army resulted in the seizure of 300 kilograms of cocaine base and more than 1,300 kilograms of "creepy" marijuana, preventing its shipment to Ecuador and subsequent distribution by international drug trafficking networks to Central America and the United States.
As part of ongoing military operations against organized armed groups committing crimes in southwestern Colombia, and with the aim of weakening their illicit activities, troops of the 29th Brigade of Colombian National Army seized approximately 300 kilograms of cocaine base and 1,321 kilograms of high-grade marijuana in the department of Cauca in less than 24 hours.
The first action of the military operation took place in the village of El Estrecho, in the municipality of Patía, where troops of the 4th Mountain Battalion, with support of the 8th Light Cavalry Group, at a checkpoint, discovered a van transporting nearly 300 kilograms of cocaine base, directly impacting the finances of drug trafficking in the region.
Simultaneously, in the village of Potrerito, department of Cauca, troops of the 12th Ground Operations Battalion found and destroyed, in controlled conditions, two makeshift drying system used for production of marijuana.
At the site, 1,221 kilograms of high-grade marijuana were found by troops, which, according to military intelligence, was ready for shipment to the Ecuadorian border and subsequent distribution in international markets destined for Central America and the United States.
In the third military operation, the Cauca Military Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Group (GAULA), in coordination with the National Police, seized 97 kilograms of marijuana, 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, a blank-firing pistol, and a magazine during a raid in the urban area of Popayán. These items would have a street price of over 210 million pesos.
These results are estimated to represent a significant loss to illicit drug trafficking revenues, by preventing the distribution of thousands of doses that would have entered illegal national and international environments, thus dealing a blow to the logistical and financial structures of organized armed groups that commit crimes in Cauca.
Colombian National Army reaffirms its commitment to continue carrying out sustained and coordinated military operations to neutralize drug trafficking networks, weaken their sources of illicit financing, and protect the inhabitants of the department of Cauca and southwestern Colombia.
Source: Press - National Army
