The First Division of the National Army based in the city of Santa Marta, Magdalena, along with its Units (the Second Brigade, the Tenth Brigade, Joint Task Force Marte and the Task Force of Combined arms), in the departments of Atlántico, Magdalena, Cesar, south of Bolivar and La Guajira, have achieved in 2021 heavy results against the different factors of instability, which converge at the north of the country.
The military operations carried out in a joint, coordinated and inter-institutional manner with the Air Force, the Navy, the Police and the Attorney General's Office demonstrate the work and daily effort of the 15,000 men deployed in these five departments.
Thus, the commitment and rapid reaction of the troops have led to the arrest to date of 724 individuals linked to common crimes, 314 people accused of being part of the GAO (organized armed group) Clan del Golfo, 269 individuals linked to local groups, 174 members of the GDO - Los Pachencas organized gang, 54 men accused of belonging to the GDO Los Costeños and 26 individuals who would belong to the GAO ELN structure. In addition, four people committed to these illegal organizations died during military operations.
In the same way, after important work focused on demobilization, the voluntary surrender of 13 people who would be part of the ELN was possible; they will receive guarantees of security and respect for their rights, thus enabling these ex-combatants to begin a new life within the law as part of the Humanitarian Assistance Group for Demobilized Persons of the Ministry of National Defence.
As for military operations aimed at countering the problem of drug trafficking, in 2021, 4,036,654 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, 1,508,749 kilograms of Marijuana, 16,218 kilograms of coca base in process and 19,669 kilograms of coca base paste were found by troops.
In addition, 114 laboratories for the production of cocaine hydrochloride were found by troops and it was possible to eradicate 2,941 hectares of illicit plantations, thus preventing further damage to flora and fauna in the north of the country, ratifying the commitment of the First Division of the National Army to neutralize illicit activities and the logistical operations of organized armed groups.
Moreover, thanks to the technical and highly trained soldiers of the Explosives and Demolitions groups (EXDE), 78 improvised explosive devices, allegedly planted by members of criminal organizations, have been found and destroyed in a controlled conditions; the use of these devices is a flagrant violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
Similarly, the troops of the First Division found 10,360,170,993 COP (about US$2,572,997.49) pesos in contraband items, which would be transported to the interior of the country evading national taxes; troops also confiscated 225,617 gallons of fuel that did not have the corresponding permits to be marketed.
Simultaneously, different activities have been carried out focused on taking care and preserving the natural resources and water sources of the north of the country throughout the year, where forest areas hit by deforestation have been reforested with 267,580 native trees to the region.
