Almost eight tonnes of cocaine have been discovered in the police operation.
Colombia, a Latin American country known for its notorious, grey drug industry has for long been trying to bring the extensive narcotics culture under control. In one such attempt on Sunday, the police seized nearly 8 tonnes of cocaine, worth millions of dollars, out of which 1.5 tonnes were already packed and ready for export, according to information provided by the Defence Minister, Luis Carlos Villegas. Disguised amidst a banana plantation in the north-western town of Turbo, the operation saw three suspected members of the cartel being arrested, while another three were able to get away.
EPA/Colombian Police via BBC
Believed to be the property of the Clan Ursuga, a large criminal group, the narcotic collection is the largest ever seized by the police at once on Colombian land, despite there having been bigger drug hauls at sea. Clan Ursuga, one of the many gangs that are functioning in Colombia, is known to have around 2,000 active members, who mainly focus on the illegal sale of drugs, extortion, abductions, killings and illegal mining. Over the course of the last five years, the Colombian police have been able to take 6,700 members of the group into custody.
The President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos was appreciative of the police’s efforts, saying, ” Operation in Turbo seized the greatest amount in our history.”
As announced by the government last month, Colombia will be launching airstrikes against groups involved in illegal mining and drug trafficking, especially extensive gangs like Clan Ursuga, Los Pelusos and Los Puntilleros.
Source (Story and Images): BBC
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