As of 2024, there are already more than 6200 devices found and destroyed in controlled conditions throughout the national territory.
Within the framework of military actions, operations of institutional presence and territorial control framed in the Ayacucho Joint Strategic Campaign Plan – Tiempo 2 -, the Military Forces found an illegal hideout which contained more than 600 explosive devices found by troops; these explosive devices were ready to be used in carrying out terrorist actions.
This is how units of the 27th Brigade of Colombian National Army, the Colombian Navy with the support of the Police, found in the rural area of Mocoa, department of Putumayo, the place where, criminals known as the Comandos de Frontera of the FARC dissidents – Second Marquetalia – were hiding the dangerous death traps.
According to the initial information, these elements were planned to be planted and used in areas where this organized armed group is constantly in an illegal dispute over territory with the Carolina Ramirez structure of the FARC dissidents – known as the Central General Staff – and even to carry out terrorist actions against the constructions of the State and the Military Forces that deploy actions for the security of the communities of the region.
Anti-explosive technicians, after adopting all the safety protocols planned to provide support in this kind of high-risk situations, proceeded to verify the place, in the middle of the dense vegetation. Finally, and after counting the elements, troops established that there were 651 anti-personnel mines and 12 nonelectric detonators.
Later and after the analysis of the elements that the criminals used for the manufacture of the devices, troops of the Infantry Battalion N.25 General Roberto Domingo Rico Diaz, destroyed these dangerous traps; in this way, troops manage to nullify the terrorist intentions of the criminal groups and at the same time contribute to the security and defense of the lives of the inhabitants of the department of Putumayo.
The authorities are investigating information about the participation of minor of age guarding these anti-personnel; these youngsters had been forcibly recruited by that illegal group to be used in actions against the law.
Through this elimination of explosives, the logistical and criminal networks of the so–called Comandos de Frontera of the FARC dissidents – Segunda Marquetalia - are hit, whose only purpose was to cause physical damage and generate injuries, including the death of both the inhabitants and the members of the Military Forces.
The General Command of the Military Forces ordered the strengthening of the security operation in the area where this illegal hiding place was found, with the aim of looking for other places where more of these elements can be found and thus provide tranquility to the communities.
The Toll-free National Anti-Terrorism Hotline 107 is constantly available to people, in which they will be able to make denunciations, with absolute reserve of information, about the activity of members of illegal groups that commit crimes there.
Source: Strategic Communications General Command of the military forces
