October 19: an ex-governor accused of extortion, and 7.6 tons of cocaine in Cartagena

1SignificantA former governor of San Andrés captured for extortion

On Monday, October 19, Raúl González, the Fiscalía's delegate prosecutor against organized crime, announced that the National Police captured Everth Julio Hawkins, a former governor of San Andrés, in Barranquilla. The Fiscalía says he allied with a gang called Las Salsas Mexicanas, which works in San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, and had it intimidate people into meeting his demands. The gang allegedly demanded 3,000 million pesos from 3 victims, 2 of them contractors, to let them keep their businesses running. In one case, the pressure allegedly included holding a relative of a victim to force the payment. He'll be charged with aggravated extortion and extortion kidnapping.

What it meansThe Fiscalía says the extortion on the islands came from a former governor, with a gang doing the work. In this case, extortion reached into the top public office in the department.

2SignificantA Gulf Clan extortion boss captured in Córdoba

Semana reported on October 19 that the Police's anti-kidnapping and extortion unit (Gaula) captured alias "Tomás" on a court warrant. The Police say he was second in command in one zone of the Gulf Clan's (Clan del Golfo) Javier Yepes Cantero substructure, with about 7 years in the group, and coordinated extortion in Chinú and Tuchín, Córdoba. He's accused of aggravated conspiracy and extortion. The place of the capture wasn't given.

What it means for usThe Police say this man ran the Gulf Clan's extortion in 2 towns in Córdoba, where the authorities say extortion cases are down 19% this year, 6 fewer than in 2025. If anyone tries to extort you, the Police Gaula answers at 165 and the Army Gaula at 147.

3SignificantThe leader of Los Fantasmas in Casanare captured in Brazil

El Tiempo reported on October 19 that alias "Giovanny," described as the leader of the gang Los Fantasmas in southern Casanare for about 10 months, was captured in Brazil, near the border. The Army's anti-kidnapping and extortion unit in Casanare (Gaula Militar), the Police in Amazonas and Interpol worked together to find him. He's accused of drug sales, targeted killings and extortion in Villanueva, and of directing the gang from Brazil. The date of the capture and whether he'll be sent back to Colombia weren't given.

What it meansA gang boss can run a town's extortion from across the border. With Interpol, Colombia's units reached him there.

4Significant7.6 tons of cocaine seized in the port of Cartagena

On October 19, Semana reported and the president posted that the National Police's Antinarcotics Directorate seized 7.6 tons of cocaine in the port of Cartagena. The cocaine was mixed with powdered panela (unrefined cane sugar). The president called it the biggest seizure in the port of Cartagena in the last 10 years. The Police put the hit to criminal finances at more than 42,000 million pesos. No arrests were mentioned, the owners haven't been identified, and the date of the seizure wasn't given.

What it meansThe traffickers hid the cocaine inside a food product to ship it out through the port. Until the Police find the owners, the seizure costs the traffickers money and puts no one in jail.

5NotableAn Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Inzá, Cauca

On Monday, October 19, an Army Black Hawk (UH-60) helicopter fell to the ground in Inzá, Cauca. Semana reports it was flying from Inzá to Popayán. The Army says 15 soldiers were aboard, some injured and others unhurt, and that all are alive and in stable condition. Semana's headline puts the number aboard at 19 people in uniform. The Air Force sent 2 air ambulances to Popayán. The cause is under investigation, and no attack has been reported.

What it meansSo far it's an accident with injuries and no deaths. The investigation will say what brought it down.

6NotableThe president's warning from Arauca

On October 19, the president led a security council in Arauca. In a post on X at 1:49 PM, he wrote: "Let them hear it loud and clear! I will not accept, ever, alliances between politicians and the terrorists of the ELN and the FARC. Those who have hands stained with blood can't decide the destiny of our Homeland." He didn't announce any new measure.

What it meansThe warning is aimed at politicians who deal with the armed groups. He named no one and announced no new step, so for now it's a statement.

On social media

His most-seen security post since the last update is the one from Arauca, at 1:49 PM on October 19: "Let them hear it loud and clear! I will not accept, ever, alliances between politicians and the terrorists of the ELN and the FARC." By about 6:30 PM it had 117,900 views, 7,500 likes and 315 replies. Insults led the replies: the most-liked one (83 likes) was an insult aimed at the left. A critic (9 likes): "Who would have thought we'd get from the Colombian 'right' a man more nefarious than Iván Duque." A supporter: "It was about time a fearless president with guts arrived... now there's hope for my country." His 3:04 PM post on the Cartagena cocaine had 68,100 views and 4,800 likes, and supporters were far ahead. The top reply (63 likes) taunted Petro's party: "Too bad you were left without funding for the next elections, sorry for you." Another (42 likes): "Every day it's clearer how our Military Forces and Police were infamously frozen! THANK YOU President." Another (37 likes): "Thank you President! I'm proud to have believed in you." A new theme was comparisons with seizures under Petro. A critic (0 likes) wrote that Petro seized about 69 tons a month: "He's still very, very far off." A supporter (11 likes) answered ahead of time that the record was for Cartagena only. His 8:56 AM post on 64 homicide suspects arrested in Bogotá since August 7 had 78,200 views and 3,900 likes. As of about 6:30 PM, he hadn't posted about Hawkins, "Tomás," "Giovanny" or the helicopter. This comes from the top replies on X, not a poll.