Abelardo de la Espriella designates all criminal groups in Colombia as terrorists to streamline security policy

President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared that all criminal groups operating in Colombia, including drug trafficking, illegal mining, extortion, and smuggling, will be treated as terrorist groups. During a Security Council meeting in Barranquilla, Abelardo de la Espriella stated that the state should no longer differentiate between these various types of bandits, as drug trafficking remains the primary source of financing for criminal structures. To address these issues, the administration announced a package of measures including the creation of a National Block for Anti-Extortion Search and the deployment of 50 Special Forces members and 2,000 police officers. The president also emphasized that illegal immigrants who commit crimes will be prioritized for deportation. The security strategy is supported by the Americas Shield, an alliance launched by President Trump to combat organized crime. The administration announced it is ready to support Colombia by deploying US technology and coordinating operations with Colombian forces to defeat brutal terrorist-organized criminal groups.

Sources

• CNN en Español
  De la Espriella dice que todos los grupos criminales en Colombia serán tratados como “terroristas”
• El Tiempo
  Gobierno declara ofensiva contra ‘cartel de los tierreros’ en el Atlántico: investigarán redes detrás del despojo y apropiación ilegal de predios
• El Tiempo
  El inventario de los grupos ilegales que serían denominados como ‘terroristas’: propuesta abre debate jurídico y militar
• El Espectador
  Las medidas que se anunciaron en Barranquilla tras consejo de seguridad
• El Colombiano
  De la Espriella anuncia que todos los grupos armados serán tratados como terroristas: “Aquí se acabó esa división”