7 cartel members killed as joint forces raid a criminal base, Colombia
Colombian authorities announced a successful joint operation against the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), a criminal structure operating in the Caribbean region.
In a rural area of Santa Marta, the Anti-Narcotics Police, working in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office and with support from the Colombian Air Force, neutralized seven members of the group and captured three others.
Among those neutralized was alias “Cholo,” identified as the second-in-command and financial leader of the ACSN. Officials stated that he had more than 15 years of criminal activity linked to drug trafficking, extortion, and control of illicit economies in the Caribbean region.
Authorities seized a significant cache of weapons and ammunition during the operation, including:
- 10 rifles (one of them a .50-caliber Barrett)
- 3 grenade launchers
- 2 pistols
- 1 hand grenade
- 11 40 mm grenades
- More than 3,500 rounds of ammunition of various calibers
- Additional logistical material
The Colombian National Police said the operation has weakened the group’s command structure, operational capacity, armament, and financing, affecting its activities in the departments of Magdalena, Cesar, and La Guajira.
President Abelardo de la Espriella and Defense Minister General José Manuel Mora traveled to Santa Marta to inspect the results of the operation firsthand and review the seized weapons and material.
In official statements, authorities described the action as a blow to the ACSN’s criminal capabilities in the region.