In the last three days, soldiers of the National Army have achieved the dismantling of a laboratory and an illegal hideout of chemical precursors for the production of sodium permanganate in the Catatumbo region.
In military operations, troops of the National Army, found a laboratory and an illegal hideout of chemical precursors for the production of sodium permanganate that would cost approximately 2,000 million pesos (about USD 416,000), which had a production and storage capacity of eight tons per month, in rural area of the municipality of Tibú – Norte de Santander.
The troops raided these two illegal structures that made up the said complex of illicit chemical substances, apparently belonging to the Organized Armed Group, GAO, ELN, where they found 1,930 kilograms of solid precursors, 2,430 gallons of liquid precursors, 1,100 gallons of fuel including Gasoline, DIESEL and different machinery and equipment that were used for the production and distribution of coca paste throughout the region.
It should be noted that, for the operation of these illegal laboratories it was necessary; 34 barrels of 55 gallons of processed gasoline, 270 plastic pools with liquid permanganate, 30 bags of permanganate, 12 bags of caustic soda, four manual sprayers, six distillation towers, a tank with processed gasoline and different precursors for the preparation of drugs.
After the revision of the material and the structures, the destruction was carried out in a controlled way to prevent damage to the environment, since many of the solid and liquid precursors can be flammable.
This organized armed group used the production and sale of coca paste to obtain weapons and explosives that were used to carry out terrorist operations against civilians, critical state constructions and Military Forces.
The troops of the Vulcano Task Force will continue to carry out military operations, tending to hit the entire chain of drug trafficking that are the financial muscle of organized armed groups, ratifying the commitment of the soldiers to continue to comply the constitutional mission, safeguarding the life and good physical condition of the inhabitants of Norte de Santander.
Source: Press - Vulcano Task Force
