Nariño. In the southwest of Colombia, Defense Minister, Luis Carlos Villegas, revealed that the fight against drug trafficking in this area leaves, since 2017 and this year, about 19 thousand hectares of coca eradicated. He in the same way said that on the border with Ecuador, the Public Force is redoubling its operations and intelligence efforts to find alias 'Guacho', responsible for several crimes in that region.
The logistical cooperation efforts conducted by our Armed Forces and Ecuador will be heavier and more robust, to maintain our operations and alerts across the border line to find this bandit and have a secure border.
"I was informed in detail of all the operations - which are carried out against “Guacho” and his organization - and we can be certain that this bandit will fall into the hands of the authorities and will be brought to justice," he reiterated.
In the Strategic Operations Center of Tumaco, the Minister of Defense reported that so far in 2018 10,500 hectares of coca leaf plantations have been eradicated throughout the country, adding that this report covers 2017 and 2018 and leaves some 65 thousand hectares eradicated.
"The work of our Armed Forces against drug trafficking in this region leaves nearly 19 thousand hectares of coca leaf eradicated by force, with reseeding levels close to 20 percent (...) At this time we managed to eradicate some 220 hectares daily throughout the country," he revealed.
The military and police campaign 'Atlas' completed 100 days of operations with about 11 thousand soldiers and police deployed, members of the Task Force Hercules, which maintains operation against organized crime and drug trafficking in the southwest of the country and in the Pacific area.
"Since 2010 to date, 85 people, members of the eradication of illicit plantations have died. They are men of the Military forces, national Police and Civilians. They have died during this type of work," he revealed. In addition, 472 people have been injured in this same period. "
"Thanks to the operation 'Atlas' the Public Force seized more than 6 tons of cocaine from criminal groups in this region, and 5 large laboratories have been dismantled," he concluded.
Source: Ministry of National Defense.
