The Command Against Drug Trafficking and Transnational Threats, a unit a of the Air Assault Aviation Division of the National Army, about the events that are taking place in the rural area of the municipality of Patía, Cauca, today, May 11, 2023, informs in a preliminary way:
1. Our units, through military operations, in the village La Aguada, municipality of Patía, department of Cauca, with the mission of countering the problem of drug trafficking and, as reported, a cocaine production laboratory was found, apparently belonging to the residual organized armed group Carlos Patiño Structure.
2. In the place the troops proceeded to carry out the destruction of a laboratory with approximately four tons of cocaine hydrochloride, but, during the procedure, the people who carry out this illicit activity do not leave the site and it was surrounded by more than 400 people, who hide their faces and who in a tumultuous way seek to prevent the military operation from being carried out, by kidnapping 26 soldiers and 2 police officers, one of them, the Head of the basic criminal investigation unit DIRAN Regional 4.
3. This command heavily rejects these acts and will proceed to file with the authorities the respective denunciations for kidnapping and sedition, among other punishable behaviors that may be configured.
4. The soldiers fulfill the constitutional mission of in the law. Military operations are legitimate and contribute to generating security conditions and to promoting the enjoyment of civil rights. People are urged not to obstruct military operations, as this may constitute crimes, as stated in the Colombian Penal Code.
5. This Command conducts efforts in a coordinated work with the Ombudsman's Office, the People's Representative for Municipal human Rights, the Municipal Mayor's Office and other civil authorities for the release of our military and police officers.
