Department of Chocó. In the framework of the operation 'Barbudo' conducted by the National Navy jointly with the National Army, in the San Juan and Baudó rivers, in the Department of Chocó, different operations were carried out that helped to find and destroy production of coca base paste laboratories and eradicate coca leaf plantations, among other results.
In the Copomá and Las Peñitas sector, in the San Juan Litoral, three coca base paste laboratories were found by troops. They contained 320 gallons of liquid precursors such as mixed gasoline, herbicide, fertilizers, 88 kilograms of solid precursors such as urea, cement, ammonium sulfate, fertilizers, among others, as well as other elements necessary for the production of alkaloids, among them hoses, metal barrels and tanks of different sizes.
In the same way, in Las Peñitas sector, the troops carried out the eradication of 19,219 coca leaf bushes, eradicating 2.42 hectares.
The laboratories and coca leaf plantations belonged to the Ernesto Che Guevara Front of the ELN. The laboratories were destroyed and the samples put into custody of the authorities.
In the Copomá sector, in the San Juan Litoral, during the revision of a ship in which four adults and two minors traveled, without the required legal documents, it was established that they were transporting a package with coca base paste, 14 million pesos in cash, 275 gallons of gasoline, a Yamaha engine, 125 pounds of rice, 11 bricks, a sack with different foods and one 18 gallon barrel with fuel.
The military personnel transferred the crew, the boat and the material to the Fluvial Checkpoint of Docordó, where the boat was immobilized and the judicial authorities determined the quantity of the coca base paste, corresponding to one kilo. The man carrying the money was put in prison and the other three were put into house arrest for the crime of trafficking, manufacturing and carrying narcotics.
Operation 'Barbudo' is carried out since May 2017 conducted by the Naval Force of the Pacific of the National Navy and the Task Force 'Titan' of the National Army, to conduct operations against the ELN and organized armed group who commit crimes in the San Juan and Baudó rivers.
Source: Pacific Naval Force - National Navy
