Chachagüi, Nariño. The Minister of Defense, Holmes Trujillo, called on the colombian people unit against drug trafficking and announced measures to improve security in the department of Nariño, including a reward of up to $200 million for information leading to the capture of those responsible for the murder of 8 people in the municipality of Samaniego.
After a security council with the leaders of the Military Forces and the National Police, as well as the authorities of Nariño, the Minister of Defense explained that “Nariño is suffering the impact of drug trafficking and this impact was increased when wrong decision policies were made”, which led to the excessive increased of illicit plantations in the country.
In this sense, he indicated that the Government of President Ivan Duque proposed to reduce the number of hectares planted with coca, a goal achieved in 2019 with a reduction of 9% according to the United Nations SIMCI report, and that to do so "we will use all possible tools, such as manual eradication, crop substitution, alternative development programs and continue to comply with the determinations of the Constitutional Court to reactivate safe aerial spraying, which does not affect health or the environment
“I would like to ask for the support of the Nariño population and colombians for this policy. Colombians need unity to fight drug trafficking, we must refuse to politicize with death”, said Minister Trujillo.
* Security measures for Nariño*
The Minister explained that the Security Council analysed the different factors of violence in the municipality of Samaniego, such as the actions of the ELN and the drug trafficking structures known as 'Los Lima' and 'Los Atún', which are fighting for control of the illegal drug business in the region.
The Minister said that a reward of up to $200 million was established for information leading to the capture of those responsible for the murder of eight people in this municipality of Nariño, as well as the creation of a Special Task Force to advance the investigations and urgent actions, led by the Attorney General Office, with the support of the Dijín, the Sijín and the CTI (Technical Investigation Corps). An officer from the Dijin Anti-terrorism group will lead the investigations by the Public Force.
In addition, to strengthen security in Samaniego, there will be a group of 30 reaction units of the National Police, as well as 20 experts in investigation and intelligence, and an operational fusion center of intelligence of the Military Forces and the National Police will be implemented with the aim of affecting the Organized Armed Groups in the region.
Meanwhile, the National Army will assign a company made up of 120 members of FUDRA 4 to carry out operations in the area; the Battalion against Drug Trafficking will be deployed in the municipality of Samaniego and a company of Special Forces will travel to Llorente to support these operations.
The Colombian Navy will intensify river controls on the Patía River in order to affect criminal organizations, while the Colombian Air Force will carry out a study of the operation of remotely manned aircraft in Nariño, with the aim of strengthening the capacity for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Finally, Minister Trujillo revealed that a social talk will be installed for the department of Nariño, between the National Government and the departmental authorities.
Source: Ministry of National Defense.
