More than 1 ton of coca leaf was found in three rudimentary laboratories dismantled by troops of the Thirtieth Brigade in the sector of Palmarito, a village two hours of the city of Cúcuta.
After the first week of 2026, troops of the Medium Cavalry Group No. 5 General Hermógenes Maza, in coordination with the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of the National Police, found and dismantled three rudimentary structures used in the production of coca base paste at the service of the Juan Fernando Porras Martínez Front of the GAO, ELN.
In the first military act, 375 gallons of diesel petroleum were found by troops, 7 containers with a capacity of 25 gallons with worked gasoline, 6 barrels of 55 gallons with water processed with coca leaves and another 4 with refined gasoline with coca leaf in process; in the same way, necessary elements for production such as presses, scales, cement, lime, wheat flour, urea and ammonia were found by troops at the scene of the events.
Meanwhile, in the second rudimentary laboratory, 700 kilos of coca leaf were found by troops, 300 kilos of solid precursors, including cement, lime, urea and ammonia; in liquid precursors, 350 gallons of DIESEL, 6 barrels of water with coca leaves and 3 barrels of 55 gallons with refined gasoline were found by troops; the place was in the same way equipped with a press, a scale, a rudimentary drainer and a sprayer. The item was put into custody of the authorities.
In the third illegal construction, the troops found 600 kilos of coca leaf, 400 gallons of DIESEL, 175 gallons of solid supplies, 4 55-gallon containers with coca leaf and 3 more with refined gasoline with coca leaf.
With the finding of these rudimentary laboratories, the Army troops reaffirm their commitment to continue closing the traffic to illicit activities in the Norte de Santander region; the military operation is constantly working to weaken the financial muscle of the GAO ELN.
Source: National Army of Colombia - Second Division
