In the fight against the links of drug trafficking and the crime of theft of hydrocarbons, soldiers of the Task Force Vulcano, of the Second Division of the National Army, achieved the capture of three men who illegally transported stolen petroleum to be used in the production of coca base paste.
Norte de Santander. In compliance with the Plan ''Victoria Plus, soldiers of the Engineers Battalion No. 30, in military control operations of the territory, in the village El Serpentino in the municipality of Tibú - Norte de Santander, captured three men who were transporting several barrels of hydrocarbon in a truck. At the time of the inspection, the troops found that the barrels contained approximately 1,200 gallons of stolen petroleum called "pategrillo".
The individuals, the petroleum and other materials, were put into custody of the Specialized Prosecutor in Tibú. The individuals, after the indictment hearing, were put in prison for the crime of receiving hydrocarbons and their derivatives.
The crime of seizure of hydrocarbons is included within the links of drug trafficking and is part of the illicit economies in the Catatumbo region, since the gallons of petroleum would be used as a resource for laboratories of coca base paste and cocaine hydrochloride. In addition, this crime generates large environmental impacts that directly and immediately alter the quality of natural resources available in the region, altering ecological functionality and causing social problems.
Source: Task Force Vulcano - National Army.