Colombian Military Forces, in compliance with their constitutional mission, have focused efforts on areas of special priority of the military operation, such as the Catatumbo region in the Department of Norte de Santander, Cauca, the department of Chocó and on the municipality of Buenaventura. There, with the military operation of about 23,000 additional members of the Military Forces, important results have been obtained, leading the institutional control in coordination with the National Police and other State institutions.
Operation Catatumbo, Operation Perseo and the deployment of troops in the department of Chocó and the municipality of Buenaventura, have been the efforts of the military operation that, under the leadership of the general commander of the Military Forces, and the implementation of differential resources of Colombian National Army, Colombian Navy, Colombian Aerospace Force, together with the tireless work of soldiers, sailors and airmen in coordination with the National Police, has focused on the stabilization of the territory, rescuing the inhabitants and bringing humanitarian aid to alleviate some of their vulnerabilities.
The use of means such as armored vehicles and Black Hawk helicopters of Colombian National Army; Harpia, Buho and Angel aircraft of the Colombian Aerospace Force, for fire support and evacuations; as well as river combat units of the Colombian Navy, which ensure dominance over the main water routes, leads to the institutional control in coordination with the National Police and other State institutions.
In the department of Cauca:
The activity of organized armed groups (GAOs) generates conditions that disturb the security of the inhabitants, especially those which inhabit the Micay Canyon. Therefore, in compliance with the constitutional mission, and with the deployment of Operation Perseo, the Military Forces have reinforced their presence with more than 8,500 men throughout the department of Cauca, there since December 2024, 26 combats have been held, with results of the military operation that include the neutralization or arrest of 54 members of the GAOs, the recovery of 10 minors, and the finding of more than 1,100 improvised explosive devices, preventing terrorist attacks against troops and inhabitants.
The unarmed work has been equally significant: the military forces have distributed 60 tons of humanitarian aid and 21 tons of seeds for productive projects, benefiting about 11,000 inhabitants. Through the binational cooperation through the United States and the strategy Navigating to the Heart of the Naya, 1,975 people in hard-to-reach areas have directly benefited.
In the Catatumbo region:
The terrorist attacks of the ELN in this region generate anxiety and confinement in the region, that is why the National Government signed decree 0062 of January 24, 2025 in which it is declared “the state of internal commotion in the Catatumbo region. On a permanent basis, the Military Forces, with a component of more than 9,650 members of the Military Forces, have sought to powerfully counter these atrocious events, and there have been about 400 operations against illegal groups, in which the recovery of 29 minors and the neutralization of 11 members of these structures was possible; in the same way, 237 firearms have been found, which would be used to attack the inhabitants and the Military Forces.
In the frontal fight against drug trafficking, the main financial link of these groups has been hit with the finding of 3480 kilograms of cocaine, the disablement of 129 laboratories for the production of this drug, and the confiscation of more than 230,000 gallons of fuels, used as a chemical precursor for this narcotic. In addition, assistance to the victims of forced displacement has been managed through the distribution of about 230 tons of humanitarian aid, in addition to the use of aircraft to carry 140 tons of aid with other agencies. In the same way, 650 computers were given to children to be used in academic activities.
In the Department of Chocó:
Since the first of January to date, in this important region of the country, military units have reported the finding of 4,894 kilograms of cocaine, as well as the destruction of 63 laboratories and the disablement of 3 ships used to transport the drug, results obtained in the midst of operations and battles against illicit structures. The threat of 54 explosive devices planted by illegal organized armed groups has been neutralized, demonstrating the constant violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
With 3,700 units, the Military Forces deploy their land resources with 102 platoons, maritime with elements of river operations and areas with Owl-type aircraft.
On the other hand, through unarmed work, a Colombian Navy ship has arrived in the region, with humanitarian assistance within the framework of the campaign “Sailing to the Heart of the Pacific” where about 2000 people were benefited.
In the city of Buenaventura:
Buenaventura is home to Colombia's main seaport on the Pacific Ocean, where part of the country's foreign trade is transported. This makes the port of Buenaventura a point of access in the same way for illicit activities such as cocaine trafficking to international markets.
The Colombian Military Forces, using its resources, has 1000 men for the municipality of Buenaventura, made up of special units, land support and river components of the Colombian Navy. The fight against drug trafficking has been strengthened in this region of the country, and it is thus that, as of January 1, operations against drug trafficking have materialized in the finding of 4,800 kilograms of cocaine and 5 destroyed laboratories, as well as the destruction of 2 boats; and with constant overflights over the municipality and within the framework of the Intervention Plan “Jácome” where 619 boats, 373 vehicles have been inspected and searches have been made to more than 5,000 inhabitants of the region.
Currently, there have been 105 heavy operations by the Military forces against organized armed groups, in which a minor has been recovered, 62 weapons have been found and the death in the framework of military operations of 2 individuals belonging to criminal structures have taken place.
With the Force of the Forces!
Source: Strategic Communications General Command of the military forces
