In the frame of the campaign plan of stabilization and consolidation 'Victoria Plus', the Task Force Vulcano, a military unit attached to the Second Division of the National Army, and the military and the police campaign Esparta, so far this year have conducted operations of territorial control, security and defense in the seven municipalities of the Catatumbo region that make up the area of operations N ° 1 of the country.
In order to neutralize the criminal operations of the Organized Armed Groups "Los Pelusos" and the ELN, which commit crimes in this jurisdiction, in the first quarter of the year, 189 terrorist plans have been counteracted destroying 166 explosive devices, 19 antipersonnel mines and four unexploded abandoned munitions. In the same way, 13 means of launching explosives have been found, which guarantees the physical conditions of the population of Catatumbo, preventing attacks against the troops and the critical infrastructure of the region.
In operations that counteract the stealing of hydrocarbons, a crime that is part of the illicit economies of the organized Armed Groups, and protect the environment and native forests, 56 thousand gallons of gasoline, 6 thousand of DIESEL and 59 thousand gallons of raw crude, have been seized; they are used in the illicit production of coca base paste. In the same way, troops have dismantled seven refineries and 10 pools or storage tanks for illegally refined crude.
In the same way, an additional effort has been carried out under the Operation Medusa, in order to contain the confrontation between 'Los Pelusos' and the ELN, and thus protect the civilian population in defense of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, maintaining the normal order guaranteeing the necessary conditions for the security of the inhabitants of this region of the country.
Military and police campaign Esparta:
In the frame of the military and police campaign Esparta, in the effort to fight frontally the Organized Armed Groups in the Catatumbo region, to date 19 captures of members of the networks of militias that support terrorism have been achieved, preventing possible criminal operations against the civilian population, the critical infrastructure of the nation and the troops that guarantee security for the welfare of the population.
Losses for drug trafficking:
Being one link in the chain of illegal financing of outlaw structures, the troops of the Vulcano Task Force have succeeded in the course of the year to heavily hit the drug trade with the dismantling of 170 coca base paste laboratories, four for the production of cocaine hydrochloride and 77 illegal hideouts of precursors. In total, 31,000 gallons of liquid precursors, 30 tons of solid precursors and 31 tons of coca leaf have been found.
Source: Vulcano Task Force
