Security update
October 15: 600 US soldiers for Colombia, a report and a denial, and a prison worker shot dead in Girón
Here's what happened since the last update, and what each one means.
1600 US soldiers for Colombia? A report, and a denial
On Wednesday night, October 14, The New York Times reported, citing unnamed US military officials, that about 600 soldiers of the US Army's 10th Mountain Division are being sent to Panama, Colombia and Honduras for counter-drug work. According to the Times, part of them will come to Colombia for an exercise called Southern Vanguard, starting at the end of October. Hours later, the US Embassy in Panama called the report "categorically false." It said 120 soldiers of that division are on a 2-week jungle course in Panama that ends October 25, and it placed Southern Vanguard in Peru. The Pentagon didn't confirm the details, and the Colombian government hadn't commented by Thursday morning.
What it meansForeign troops need the Senate's permission to pass through Colombia, and the opposition is already in court over US helicopters in Tumaco. If US soldiers do arrive at the end of October, the first question will be whether the Senate approved it. Our breaking news page has the full story.
2A prison worker shot dead in Girón
Diego Acevedo Garzón, an official of the prison service (Inpec), was shot on the night of Wednesday, October 14, in an establishment in Girón, Santander. He was off duty. According to preliminary information from the Ministry of Justice, armed men intercepted him and shot him. He died at the Hospital Universitario de Santander. No arrests have been reported. The Ministry of Justice: "Violence against those who serve the State is unacceptable." On the morning of October 15, the president posted: "The blood of our soldiers, police and guards shed by the violent will not go unpunished. We will find those responsible and they will answer to justice." Girón's security secretary asked for protection for prison staff and warned that the city's capacity is overwhelmed.
What it meansPrison staff are being hunted off duty. Since October 10, 2 have been killed, in Cúcuta and Girón, and 2 wounded in Barranquilla.
3Drones wound 9 soldiers in Chocó
On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 14, drones dropped explosives on soldiers of the 15th Military Engineers Battalion in San José del Palmar, Chocó. 9 soldiers were wounded. They got first aid at the scene and were to be taken to Medellín. Their condition wasn't given. Initial reports blame the "Ernesto Che Guevara" front of the ELN. The authorities haven't confirmed it.
What it meansDrone attacks on soldiers and police are at a record this year, and this one wounded 9 in a single attack.
4A commander in Calarcá's group captured
Police investigators (Dijín) and Interpol, working with the Fiscalía, captured alias "Emilio Zapata" in Barrancabermeja, Santander. El Tiempo reported it on October 14. The authorities say he was fourth in command of Structure 4 of the dissident group led by alias "Calarcá", with 20 armed men under him, and that he directed the clashes with the Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo) in Antioquia and ordered explosive attacks. The head of the Dijín links him to the May 22, 2024 attack in Remedios, Antioquia, that killed 13 Gulf Clan members. The Fiscalía will seek charges including terrorism and aggravated homicide.
What it meansPolice took his laptop for analysis, and what's on it can lead to the rest of his structure.
5A ton of cocaine near Tayrona, now confirmed
Police counter-narcotics and the Army, working with the US DEA, seized a ton of cocaine hidden in a rural storage spot in Calabazo, in Bonda, rural Santa Marta, near Tayrona National Park. The packages were marked with the Star of David. Police say it was headed for the United States. Early investigations point to the Conquistadores of the Sierra (Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra), also called Los Pachenca. No arrests were reported. The president announced it on October 13.
What it means for usThe last update said we hadn't found this in the news. El Tiempo has now confirmed it, with the place and the group. The group stores cocaine for export in the hills on the edge of Tayrona, next to the tourist routes.
On social media
His balance of the October 14 march, posted at 10:15 PM, drew 419,000 views, 15,700 likes and 743 replies, his biggest post in days. In it he says 98% of the marches were peaceful and 62,000 people marched. This time his supporters hold the top likes. The most-liked reply: "And where are those 12 million votes for Cepeda hahaha" (327 likes). The most-liked critic: "A pair of addicts to blood and violence. To show 'strength' they decided to repress a peaceful cultural event in the Parque de los Periodistas." (264 likes; we haven't checked that claim) Others doubt his number: "I wonder where he gets the figure of 62,000 people who marched? The images show there were millions in several cities in the country!" (1 like) His post on the Girón killing had 18,000 views and 1,100 likes by 9 AM, with few replies. Support: "Nobody messes with our soldiers, police and guards! The blood of our heroes can't go unpunished." (2 likes) A critic: "Yes. You made soldiers shed blood and you shout long live Christ the King." (3 likes) As of 9 AM, he hadn't posted about the 9 soldiers wounded in Chocó or the US troops. The new themes: a fight over the 62,000 figure, and calls for an indefinite national strike. 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.