During 2023, the Colombian Navy, in compliance with the Ayacucho Plan of the General Command of the Military Forces, has carried out decisive naval operations against crime, with its Naval, Naval Air, Navy Infantry, Coast Guard and Special Forces components, in seas, rivers and coasts of the national territory, contributing to the security of all Colombians.
In the frontal fight against the crime of drug trafficking, interception operations have become the spearhead in disrupting the distribution chain of illicit drugs worldwide, and this year the finding of more than 33 tons of cocaine, 12 tons of marijuana and three semi-submarine type naval devices was reported. In the same way, the operations have led to the dismantling of more than 87 laboratories, more than 274 tons of solid precursors and more than 108,000 gallons of liquid precursors, the latter highly polluting our ecosystems.
Similarly, 146 drug traffickers have been arrested, multi-criminal organizations have been dismantled, and their finances have been impacted by more than 1.2 billion dollars.
With these results, the commercialization of about 85 million doses on the streets of the world was prevented, as well as 330 overdose deaths and the generation of 16,500 new users, thus contributing to public health worldwide, as well as to the comprehensive maritime and river security of Colombians.
In the protection of the national economy, in the first months of the year the operations against smuggling increased, jointly and in a coordinated way, troops prevented the entry of more than 318,000 units of illegal merchandise into the country, valued at more than 1,300 million pesos, especially in the border areas.
In order to contribute to the preservation of the environment, operations are being carried out against illegal mining, a crime that mainly threatens our rivers; this 2023 the finding of 13 units of yellow machinery used for the illicit exploitation of mining deposits and more than eight tons of restricted metals, such as coltan, has been reported.
In the same sense, more than five tons of illegal fishing have been found in different maritime and river operations and 1,712 wildlife specimens have been recovered.
Finally, thanks to the timely reaction and training of the Sailors and navy units, 146 people have been rescued in emergency situations on seas and rivers, 28 people have been evacuated in humanitarian assistance operations and 23 irregular migrants have been safeguarded.
Source: Press – Navy of Colombia
