The phenomenon of drug trafficking has changed since the 80s and the Military Forces have known how to fight and overcome it.
In the short term, the number of units will be increased to ensure the security of Colombians.
The 58.3% of the collective homicides clarified in 2020 correspond to conflicts conducted by criminal structures for territorial spaces for criminal incomes.
In a political control debate convened by the House of Representatives, the Minister of Defense, Diego Molano, reiterated to this institution that the main threat to the security of citizens and the nation is drug trafficking.
"Today we have five great symbols of evil that we inherited as Military Forces after the peace agreement. These are the dissidences of the FARC, which exist and are based on drug trafficking; we have narcotalia, FARC dissidents who participated in the peace process, but they deceived Colombians, today they hide in Venezuela, release videos with threats and seek to control the business of the border. And finally we have other threats such as the Clan del Golfo, the Pelusos and the Caparr贸s that come from the mutation of former self-defense forces and other criminals" said the Minister.
On the other hand, he highlighted the operations carried out by the Military Forces in the manual eradication of illicit plantations, destruction of infrastructure for drug production and the finding of cocaine, noting that at the end of 2020 record figures were reached in each of these fronts.
"We attacked the (drug trafficking) phenomenon in its entirety, managing to find 505 tons of cocaine and destroyed more than 5,000 drug production infrastructures. Because drug trafficking has a direct relationship with violence, the killings of social leaders and the displacement of inhabitants," Molano said.
He in the same way said that today the Military Forces in the same way fight the other side of the situation: micro-trafficking which that directly harms the security of citizens, is responsible for many murders and the recruitment of minors, which starts making them addicts, then criminals and can become hit men.
To face these challenges, minister Molano informed parliamentarians that in the short term the number of units for the police and the National Army will be significantly increased from 2021 to 2022, thanks to a special effort by the Ministry of Finance that guarantees additional resources to the defense Sector.
"This year 10,500 men will join (2,000 more than those who join annually) and next year 10,500 more. 15,000 police auxiliaries will in the same way strengthen the number of units from 2021 to 2022. This exercise is very important to strengthen the National Police. In the Army we had a problem of incorporation due to the pandemic, this year we carried out activities to accelerate the incorporation of military personnel, this year we hope to incorporate 28,000 soldiers to complete the units," said the head of the ministry.
At the end of his speech the Minister highlighted the commitment of the men and women of the Military Forces in the fight against the different criminal phenomena that harm the security of citizens, and affirmed that they are the main capacity of the defense Sector.
Minister Molano was accompanied by military and police commanders.
Source: Defence Sector Communications Office-Ministry of National Defence
