• Did you know that the Colombian National Army has two important resources that are unique among the Armies of Latin America?
• From August 7, 2022 to August 7, 2023, the National Army has arrested more than 13,400 individuals for different crimes, that is, 10,700 more men than the independence Army had to face on August 7, 1819 in the Battle of Boyacá.
This August 7th commemorates 204 years of the battle that consolidated the independence victory, when the bases of a new republic and its army were established, affirming a force respectful of freedom and constitutional order, which for more than two centuries has evolved to become an international benchmark to other armies, for its operational strength and important technological progress in the art of war.
Technological Innovation
One of these important features is in the Army Quality Control Laboratory (LACCE), accredited by the NTC-ISO/IEC 17025 standard and the National Accreditation Body of Colombia (ONAC), covered by the multilateral recognition agreements. There, based on national and international norms and standards, tests are carried out on materials such as textiles, rubbers, leathers and metals, as well as microbiological and physicochemical analyses (water and food), which leads to verify the optimal quality of the elements obtained and/ or produced by the branche.
This laboratory, unique in the armies of Latin America, counts on qualified human resources, excellent work areas and equipment; it validates the results and synergy in the processes under f high quality and reliability.
The LACCE works with institutional transparency and good operations physical conditions, through the implementation of the anti-corruption regulations of the National Army of Colombia (Directorate for the Implementation of Transparency Standards, DANTE), as well as the constant identification and treatment of its risks, which guarantees the impartiality of the personnel and the validity of the results.
Protection for troops
On the other hand, in the Maintenance Battalion there is the Permethrin Impregnation Plant, a process that, with the technology and specialized personnel, consists of the appropriate and safe implementation of this chemical insecticide and acaricide in the camouflage uniforms used by the members of the National Army who are in endemic areas, in order to prevent mosquito bites and insects that can transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, leishmaniasis, among others.
This procedure provides our soldiers with prolonged protection in the area of operations, which results in the well-being, health care and confidence of those who work in inhospitable places defending the sovereignty and tranquility of Colombians.
Operational decisiveness August 7, 2022 to August 7, 2023
Turning to other aspects, we have the following figures: minors recovered, 416; citizens rescued from kidnapping, 115; weapons confiscated, 2,998; improvised explosive devices destroyed, 1,600, and in the same way more than 5,200 mines – the latter following all the protocols to do so under controlled conditions.
Operation against drug trafficking
In the same way, more than 88 tons of cocaine, more than 106 tons of marijuana and more than 21 tons of coca paste base have been found since August 7, 2022 to date.
2,139 laboratories for the production of narcotic drugs were destroyed, as well as more than 2,380 seedbeds. With regard to the precursors, more than 1,400,000 gallons of liquid precursors and more than 1,000 tons of solid precursors have been found.
Organized armed groups losses
Within the framework of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, 213 alleged ELN members have been arrested; 674, of the residual organized armed groups; 1,164, of the Clan del Golfo; along with another 11,400 individuals specialized in drug trafficking and common crime, as a result of operational decisiveness, another 541 individuals from different criminal groups were brought to justice.
Facing environmental crimes
With regard to environmental crimes and illegal mining, 498 people have been arrested related to illegal mining activities and 383 of other crimes against the environment.
More than 1,200 units of equipment and machinery have been disabled, which were specialized to crimes against the environment, considered environmental predation.
The operations in the same way led to the finding of 1,097 clandestine valves and refineries, many of them responsible for the pollution of our water resources and vegetation layer, as well as ecosystems.
More than 6 million seedlings have been sown in different regions of the country.
The finding of timber from illegal logging increased by 5%.
Comprehensive Action
Thanks to the work of our men and women of the Comprehensive Action of the National Army, 6,874,652 people benefited from 82 development support activities carried out throughout Colombia and in 2 binational development support activities, medical assistance was provided in more than 5,400 cases.
Marketing support and micro-entrepreneurs
The determined management of the Integrated operation Battalions in the country led to the realization of 33 peasant markets that benefited more than 800 families, which generated revenues of more than 386,000,00 million pesos in sales.
In the same way, 9 business meetings and 209 commercial agreements were held, for the direct and indirect benefit of more than 3,140 people.
Construction Projects
It is important to note that, in 2023, 41 construction projects were carried out, including the construction of Popayan-Cauca gabions, the construction of school buildings in the villages of Cajibío and Morales, in the department of Cauca, as well as in Villavicencio, Meta.
The construction of a playground was carried out in Villavicencio, Meta; the construction of eco-efficient stoves in the south of Tolima; the construction of a communal hall in Mocoa, Putumayo, and school improvement in the municipalities of Dolores and Las Hermosas, in Tolima.
Military Engineers
Military Engineers have stood out in the history of the country as a specialty of the National Army with multiple knowledge and Differential resources that have not only contributed to the social and economic stabilization of the Colombian inhabitants, but have in the same way generated hope for those Colombian families who need it most.
Humanitarian Demining Engineer Brigade
Since August 12, 2022, humanitarian demining tasks have been carried out in 65 municipalities or areas prioritized and declared to be intervened with such important humanitarian operation. Thus, 1,454,164 m2 have been intervened through the different techniques, where 99 explosive devices were destroyed; thus, 10 municipalities or areas were declared free of suspicion of contamination of anti-personnel mines.
Special Engineer Brigade
So far this year they have distributed 5 bridges throughout Colombia, as follows:
* Campo Hermoso, Municipality of La Paz de Ariporo, Casanare
* Aldea La Playa, in Matanza, Santander
• Gualtal, Tumaco, Nariño
* Malaga, Santander
• Quetame, Cundinamarca
Brigade of Assistance and Prevention of Disasters
More than 802 emergency interventions have been carried out in 150 municipalities of 26 departments, benefiting more than 3 million people; and in the international field, the support provided to the Republic of Turkey, due to the earthquake of magnitude 5.2 on the Richter scale, stands out.
In the country, 61 humanitarian aid contributions have been carried out, 8 search and rescue operations, in which the participation of trained dogs such as Wilson, Ulises and Shaina, with their guides in the search for the 4 children lost in the jungle, in the department of Guaviare, stands out; in the same they have worked on 19 vegetation fires, which have been extinguished, 43 interventions for the management of dangerous substances and preventive disinfection, 35 awareness-raising activities with people potentially hit by the possible eruption alert of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, 16 mud and debris removal operations, highlighting the participation in the emergency presented in Rosas (Cauca).
Brigade of Construction Engineers
They are currently working on the improvement of roads in Norte de Santander, with the Sustainable Catatumbo program, - 1km and, finally, they are structuring 2 projects: one consists of the improvement of 6.7 km of tertiary roads in the sector that connects the municipality of Sevilla with Corozal, Valle del Cauca department, and the other, in the improvement and paving of the internal roads of the municipality of San Juan de Pasto, in Nariño, there are 79 sections in asphalt.
