With losses approaching 17,000 million pesos, as a result of the destruction and disablement of the elements used for this illegal activity, the Colombian Army, Police and Navy reaffirm their commitment to the protection of natural resources, security and the comprehensive development of the territory.
Within the framework of the Ayacucho Plus Joint Strategic Campaign Plan, the Fifteenth Brigade continues to strengthen actions aimed at weakening illicit activities associated with the illegal exploitation of natural resources.
In operations carried out by troops of the Infantry Battalion No. 12 Primero de Línea, with the support of the Brigade Against the Illicit Exploitation of Mining Sites, in conjunction with the Colombian Navy and in permanent coordination with the National Police, important results of the military operation were obtained in the municipalities of Río Quito, hamlet San Isidro and in Quibdó, sector Cabí.
During two procedures it was possible the intervention of 61 mining production units specialized in the illicit exploitation of mining sites, which represents a financial weakening of the organized armed group, GAO, Clan del Golfo, by about 17,000 million pesos in machinery.
In the same way, as a result of the operational tasks carried out by the troops, a considerable amount of elements used for this illegal activity were destroyed, including an excavator machine, 7 Brazilian-type dragons (dredges), 10 motor pumps, 20 diver-type dredgers and 23 engines. In the same way, it was possible to arrest a person: a revolver and 5 38 mm caliber cartridges were seized.
As a result of this deployment of the military operation, in addition to the losses in machinery, the estimated extraction of 30,000 grams of gold per month was prevented, which means a loss of more than 16,000 million pesos within the illegal trade.
Through these results, the illicit activities of organized criminal structures are directly hit, including the Carreteras Jhon Fredy Orejuela Substructure, of the GAO Clan del Golfo, as well as individuals specialized in this illegal activity, contributing to the protection of the environment and the strengthening of the security of communities in the department of Chocó.
It is important to highlight that the disablement of the elements was carried out in accordance with current regulations and attended by the authority, working to ensure compliance with the established legal and environmental procedures, taking into account the serious effects of this illegal extraction activity on the Quito and Atrato rivers.
Source: Press - National Army
