Security update
October 12: a car bomb on the Pan-American, and 41 detainees escape in Santa Marta
Here's what happened since the last update, and what each one means.
1A car bomb at the El Bordo toll on the Pan-American Highway
Early on Monday, October 12, a vehicle fitted with explosives went off at the El Bordo toll, in La Sierra, Cauca, on the Pan-American Highway (Vía Panamericana). First reports say 3 people were injured, and El Tiempo says they're civilians. No soldiers were hurt. The army's Brigade 29 preliminarily blames the Carlos Patiño structure of alias "Iván Mordisco's" FARC dissidents, led by alias "Ferley Ríos". The authorities are offering up to 1,000 million pesos for information that leads to his capture. The road was closed, and the Ministry of Transport says traffic stays suspended until the security checks are done. At 8:00 AM, the president wrote: "Every attack by the narco-terrorists will have consequences. We will pursue them and they will answer to justice."
What it means for usThis is the 3rd attack on the Pan-American in Cauca in 4 days, after the vehicle bomb in Patía and the attack at Mi Bohío on October 9. Armed groups keep hitting the main road between Cali, Popayán and Pasto. If you drive the Pan-American in Cauca, check the road status before you leave.
241 detainees escape in Santa Marta, and the police commander is out
Early on Monday, detainees at the Protection Transfer Center (Centro de Traslado por Protección) in Santa Marta protested over food, delays in their cases and pending releases. Infobae reports it became a riot, the building was damaged and things were set on fire, and then the authorities confirmed that 41 detainees had escaped. They were held for theft, small-scale drug dealing and other crimes. No recaptures have been reported. At 8:52 AM, the president announced that Colonel Yeison López, the Santa Marta police commander, will be called to retire, for the escape, for not reporting it in time, and for not acting against the Sunday blockade of the Santa Marta-Barranquilla road at Tasajera. "In this Government, cowardice has no place," he wrote. Colonel Jimmy Belalcázar takes command this week. The city and the police are offering up to 5 million pesos for information.
What it meansThe president says they aren't high-danger criminals. But 2 of the 41 are priorities: alias "Mongolo", of the Conquistadoras of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), caught last week with a gun, and alias "Guajiro", whom the president links to the killing of a police officer in Ciénaga on October 31, 2025.
3"El Tuerto" captured in Chocó, accused of running drone attacks
On October 12, the army's 15th Brigade reported the capture of alias "El Tuerto" in La Guama, north of the Iró River, Chocó. The army says he belonged to the ELN's Cacique Calarcá front and was "in charge of driving the drone attacks," along with armed propaganda on the roads, including the Quibdó-Pereira road. Troops seized 2 guns, ammunition and 3 grenades.
What it meansDrone attacks on soldiers and police are at a record this year. The armed forces counted 176 from January to October 1, and they blame the ELN for 90 of them.
On social media
His post on the Santa Marta police was his biggest of the day: about 316,000 views, 12,000 likes and 384 replies. The replies back him, with few likes on any of them. "Today, given the conditions the country is in, you can't go easy on criminals; every action and decision has to be decisive, with all the courage and bravery." (2 likes) The most-liked critic questioned how he did it: "With all due respect, the president is a trial criminal lawyer, I think he's violating due process!.. you can't talk about calling someone to retire without exhausting the proper steps." (5 likes) His post on the El Bordo bomb drew 87,000 views and 4,200 likes, and there the critics held the top likes. The most-liked reply (42 likes) was an insult that threw his campaign promise of 90 days back at him. Another: "Mr. President, this department needs more effective action. No more of the same statements, rewards and solidarity. What it needs is what you promised so much. Cauca needs it urgently." (0 likes) The new themes: the 90-day promise, and due process for the colonel. He announced a national address for 8 PM Monday and didn't say the topic. This comes from the top replies on X, not a poll.
I support most of this. But it doesn't go far enough. These groups use any space they're given to reset and grow. They need to be crushed, not contained.