This chemical substance, due to its active property, is an oxidizing agent in the production process of cocaine hydrochloride; it is difficult to obtain, and its importation requires documentation that proves as chemical or pharmaceutical industry.
A gigantic clandestine construction used to produce potassium permanganate was destroyed by troops of the Twenty-Second Rainforest Brigade, of Colombian National Army, in the village of Chaparrito, municipality of Puerto Concordia, a municipality adjacent to the department of Guaviare.
The complex where the chemical substance was being produced, allegedly belonged to armed groups that commit crimes in this area of the country.
In this megalaboratory made of five wooden and plastic structures, the troops found 1600 kilograms of potassium permanganate, 1283 gallons of potassium permanganate in solution, 1051 liquid chemical precursors, 430 kilograms of solid precursors, 180 plastic barrels of 20 liters with sodium hypochlorite, 120 gallons of 20 liters with potassium permanganate, 36 sacks of 25 kilos with granulated potassium permanganate, 2 metal tanks of 2000 liters with stored potassium permanganate, 2 plastic tanks, 1000 liters with potassium permanganate and 2 boilers.
It should be noted that the operation of this illegal laboratory would cost approximately 306,259,800 pesos.
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 are flammable. In the same way, this structure was put into custody of the judicial authorities.
The troops of the Twenty-Second jungle Brigade will continue to carry out military operations aimed at neutralizing the entire chain of the drug trafficking link, the financial muscle of the armed groups outlaw.
Source: Press - Fourth Division of Colombian National Army
