On November 16, 2019, Mr. Carlos Holmes Trujillo received his functions as the new Minister of Defense in the Government of President Iv谩n Duque, replacing Mr. Guillermo Botero, who had resigned.
From that day, Minister Trujillo Garc铆a, who was previously the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assumed his commitment to the defense and security of the country, a position he held until the day of his death.
Some of his most important achievements are:
1. During 2020, the Military Forces eradicated 130,171 hectares of illicit plantations, 37 percent more than the same period in 2019, when 94,670 hectares were removed.
2. From the first of January to the 31 of December of 2020, a reduction of -5 percent in the number of homicides was reported, compared to the same period of the previous year, going from 12,925 to 12,274 cases. It is a decline that had not been reported for 46 years.
3. The threat posed by 5,563 members of organized armed groups and organized crime groups was neutralized. This numbers include demobilized people, captures and individuals killed during Military Forces operations.
4. During the sixth phase of Operation Orion, conducted by more than 25 countries, 90.7 tons of cocaine and 18.6 tons of marijuana were found; 169 laboratories were destroyed along with more than 110 tons of solid precursors, which, together with the 90 tons of elements confiscated by the troops, represent a record in coordination and operational capacity.
5. His management and leadership, in 2020, led to obtain historic seizures of psychoactive substances, 505.6 tons of cocaine hydrochloride and 534.5 tons of marijuana.
6. In the pandemic, the Military Forces carried out, in 2020, the most gigantic logistics operation to distribute more than 7 million food baskets in different places in Colombia.
7. More than 90 security councils were held in 23 departments of the country, where 670 commitments were made to strengthen security conditions in all regions of the country.
8. He positioned the social and Business Group of the defense Sector (GSED) as one of the largest, influential and important business groups for the national industry, managing a budget equivalent to 1.08 percent of GDP, contributing to the strengthening of the national economy.
9. Under his commitment and leadership, the Military Forces stepped up the fight against the illegal exploitation of minerals. It was possible to capture 1,935 individuals for illegal exploitation of minerals and 303 units of yellow machinery were found or destroyed.
10. Along with several members of the Congress he proposed the bill by means of which the new category of Police professionals is created, in order to solve the structural challenges in the institution and obtain the well-being of its men and women, to consolidate an effective police service.
11. He ratified the commitment of the Ministry of Defense to the prevention and comprehensive assistance in case of gender violence and the promotion of gender equity within the Military Forces, through ministerial resolutions 3010 and 3029 of 2020.
Source: Communications Office- Ministry of National Defence
