With the leadership of the President of the Republic of Colombia, Iván Duque, and the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, the Presidential Meeting Encuentro Presidencial X Gabinete Binacional Colombia Ecuador was held, where the role of the Military Forces of both countries in the fight against transnational crime was highlighted.
The president of the Republic, Iván Duque Márquez, along with the minister of Defence, Diego Molano Aponte, and other ministers led the Meeting Encuentro Presidencial X Gabinete Binacional Colombia - Ecuador where he met with the delegation of the Government of Ecuador, headed by president Guillermo Lasso, with the aim of strengthening the bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, and defining common interests in security and defense.
To achieve this objective, both countries will coordinate their resources to progress towards greater border control, through land, river and air ways, thus countering the frontal fight against transnational crimes, in particular drug trafficking.
This was stated by President Iván Duque when he said: “Bilateral relations have never been as high as they are today. That is due to an identity based on principles and values.”
For his part, Defense Minister Diego Molano ratified the commitment to fight the greatest threat we have on the border: drug trafficking. “From today, soldiers and police officers of both nations control illegal crossing points and give security and tranquility to citizens.”
During this meeting, the importance of maintaining the Binational Annual Operational Plan (POAB) on Security and Defense, signed on May 6, 2021, was highlighted as the main tool to conduct the planning of strategies and coordinated operations to combat organized crime groups on the binational border. In this way, it seeks to attack crimes such as drug trafficking, illegal mining of minerals, illicit trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives and trafficking in people.
“Identity in the frontal fight against transnational drug trafficking, illegal mining of minerals and environmental crimes is confirmed. Cooperation and coordination are at a dynamic point that we want to materialize even more in the coming months,” said President Duque.
The fulfillment of 86% of the commitments derived of the Binational Annual Operational Plan (POAB) 2021, in just 7 months, demonstrates the high level of coordination between our Military Forces, despite the restrictions derived of the current pandemic. In the same way, and to the same end, we have made decisive progress in fulfilling the commitments made at the binational meetings of 9 July in Ipiales (Colombia) and 14 August in Mataje (Ecuador).
“With the commitment and resources of the Military Forces, we will guarantee the security of the border points Rumichaca, San Miguel and Mataje, which are now fully reopened,” Minister Molano concluded.
With the support of the security authorities of both countries, it has been possible to reduce the impact on security in the border area in 2021, in the same way we have strengthened the exchange of information for operations. On this point, the presidents of Colombia and Ecuador highlighted the importance of maintaining the exchange of information through confidence-building mechanisms, including the Binational Border Group COMBIFRON.
Ecuador and Colombia maintain their commitment to security and the fight against binational crime, this is how, with the Maritime and Naval Campaign Orion conducted by both nations, during the eighth version of the campaign, it was possible to find 20.4 tons of cocaine and 4 tons of marijuana, 3,300 gallons of precursors, and 81 individuals were arrested. Criminal structures have lost US$ 714 million.
In addition, “intelligence and counterintelligence information and the development and training of teams to fight transnational crime and the formation of joint special operations commands in Ecuador” will be increased by the two countries: President Iván Duque.
Finally, the need to carry out coordinated operations by the Military Forces of both countries was reiterated in the field of biosecurity, considering the total reopening of the binational border and the importance of maintaining a constant and fluid dialogue by both governments, branches commanders and Ministries in order to continue working to fight the different threats of transnational crime.
Source: Defence Sector Communications Office – Ministry of National Defence
