logo
Colombia arrests 217 suspected members of top drug cartel

Colombia arrests 217 suspected members of top drug cartel

Time of India06-05-2025

ANI file photo
BOGOTA: Colombian authorities said Monday they had captured more than 200 members of the country's biggest drug cartel, which is accused of murdering two dozen security force members in the past month.
The Gulf Clan was born out of the right-wing paramilitary groups that fought leftist guerrillas in the 1990s before turning their attention to the cocaine trade.
President Gustavo Petro
has accused the group, with which he suspended peace talks in early 2023, of devising a strategy to "systematically murder" members of the security forces.
Armed forces chief Franciso Cubides told a news conference on Monday the security forces had responded by arresting 217 members of the clan since April 15.
He added that 15 other suspected drug traffickers had been shot dead in raids that had netted 6.8 tonnes of drugs, 123 firearms and more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition.
Sixteen police officers and five soldiers have been killed in attacks blamed on what Petro has called the Gulf Clan's "pistol plan."
Cubides said the attacks were part of a "desperate response" by armed groups to the "overwhelming" setbacks they were suffering at the hands of the police and military in the north and west of the country.
The cartel paid its members "between 10 and 15 million (Colombian pesos, between $2,300 and 3,500) for some dead police officers," Interior Minister Armando Benedetti told a weekly government cabinet meeting.
The Gulf Clan, which engages in illegal gold mining, racketeering and migrant smuggling, is believed to number about 7,500 members, according to government estimates.
The arrests come as Colombia suffers its worst outburst of violence since the leftist FARC guerrilla army, one of the world's oldest rebel movements, signed a peace deal with the government in 2016.
Benedetti admitted last month that Petro's strategy of pursuing "total peace" by engaging in dialogue with the country's various armed groups had not borne fruit.
On Petro's watch, several armed groups, particularly the Gulf Clan, have grown stronger, Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez admitted recently in an AFP interview.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Delhi Police deports 134 illegal Bangladeshi nationals through multiple drives
Delhi Police deports 134 illegal Bangladeshi nationals through multiple drives

India Gazette

timean hour ago

  • India Gazette

Delhi Police deports 134 illegal Bangladeshi nationals through multiple drives

New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): The South District Police of Delhi have deported a total of 134 Bangladeshi nationals, including 38 women and 43 children, following 14 intensive enforcement drives conducted between December 27, 2024, and June 10, 2025, according to a release on Wednesday. According to the release, the operation, aimed at addressing growing concerns over unauthorised foreign nationals, involved multiple teams targeting slums and suspected areas to verify voter IDs and Aadhaar cards for identifying illegal immigrants. Responding to escalating concerns about the unauthorised stay of Bangladeshi migrants, the South District Police launched a sustained campaign, leveraging local intelligence networks, sensitised informants, and developed human intelligence to trace and apprehend those residing illegally. Efforts also focused on mapping and monitoring entry routes commonly exploited by undocumented immigrants entering India. Special Operation Units and Police Stations worked in close coordination, gathering actionable intelligence that led to swift detentions of individuals overstaying visas or lacking valid travel documents. The successful drives included several key arrests under specific cases. Five Bangladeshi nationals were arrested at PS Sangam Vihar under Sections 318(2)/319(2)/337/61(1)(A) of BNS and 34 Aadhar Act. Two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested at PS Fatehpur Beri under Sections 318(2)/139(2)/61(1)(A) of BNS, the 14 Foreigner Act and the 34 Aadhar Act. Eight Bangladeshi nationals were arrested at PS Lodhi Colony under Sections 318(2)/319(2)/337 of the BNS, the 14 Foreigners Act, and the 34 Aadhar Act and one Bangladeshi national at PS Maidan Garhi under Section 25/54/59 of the Arms Act. The police have appealed to the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals suspected of illegal stay in their vicinity, with a statement assuring that information provided to local police will be treated confidentially and may prevent unlawful activities. Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Market Welfare Associations (MWAs) have been urged to support law enforcement by spreading awareness and cooperating in verification drives to maintain safe and law-abiding neighbourhoods. (ANI)

Lt General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of Sri Lanka Army reaches India
Lt General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of Sri Lanka Army reaches India

India Gazette

timean hour ago

  • India Gazette

Lt General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of Sri Lanka Army reaches India

New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, is officially visiting India from 11th to 14th June 2025. This visit is set to enhance bilateral military cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration, particularly in the areas of training and capability enhancement, said a statement from Ministry of Defence on Wednesday. It underscores the continued efforts of both nations to further strengthen and deepen their longstanding defence partnership. The first day of the visit began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo paid tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. Following the wreath-laying, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was given a formal Guard of Honour in the South Block Lawns. The ceremonial event, attended by senior officials of the Indian Army, marked a significant gesture of respect and a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations. The Guard of Honour was followed by a series of high-level meetings beginning with an in-depth interaction with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. Both the military leaders discussed wide-ranging issues, including aspects of bilateral defence cooperation and regional security concerns. Later, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was briefed on Operation Sindoor and India's security perspective. He was also briefed by other senior officers of the Indian Army on matters of mutual interest. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo thereafter met Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff and Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary. These meetings provided an opportunity for the exchange of views on broader defence and security issues, focusing on matters of mutual interest. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo also planted a tree at the Manekshaw Centre, symbolising the time-tested relationship of the Indian and Sri Lankan Armies. On 12th June 2025, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo is scheduled to visit Jaipur and meet Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command. The General Officer will grace the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, as the Reviewing Officer on 14th June 2025. This visit will mark a poignant return to his alma mater, where he was commissioned in December 1990, with the 87th Course of the IMA- an experience that laid the foundation of his illustrious military career. His presence at the Academy will rekindle memories of his formative years, now brought full circle as he would review a new generation of officers. Adding a personal and emotional dimension to the ceremony, Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of Sri Lanka Army, will also be in attendance to witness his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, being commissioned with the current course. This confluence of legacy and leadership underscores the enduring spirit of camaraderie and leadership connect between the two Armies. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo's visit to India is marked by a series of productive engagements, aimed at furthering the defence relationship between Sri Lanka and India. The visit not only highlights the commitment of both nations to strengthening their military ties but also underscores their shared focus on regional security and peace. (ANI)

Sri Lankan Army Commander Lt Gen Lasantha Rodrigo meets Def Secy Rajesh Kumar
Sri Lankan Army Commander Lt Gen Lasantha Rodrigo meets Def Secy Rajesh Kumar

India Gazette

timean hour ago

  • India Gazette

Sri Lankan Army Commander Lt Gen Lasantha Rodrigo meets Def Secy Rajesh Kumar

New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, met with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh today in New Delhi, according to the Defence Ministry. As per the Defence Ministry, the two leaders held comprehensive discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of capacity building and capability enhancement. Notably, Lt Gen Rodrigo is currently on a four-day official visit to India. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, has arrived on an official visit to India from June 11-14. As per the Ministry of Defence, this visit is set to enhance bilateral military cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration, particularly in the areas of training and capability enhancement. It underscores the continued efforts of both nations to further strengthen and deepen their longstanding defence partnership. The first day of the visit began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo paid tribute to the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. Following the wreath-laying, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was given a formal Guard of Honour in the South Block Lawns. The ceremonial event, attended by senior officials of the Indian Army, marked a significant gesture of respect and a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations. The Guard of Honour was followed with a series of high-level meetings beginning with an in-depth interaction with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. Both the military leaders discussed wide ranging issues including aspects of bilateral defence cooperation and regional security concerns. Later, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo was briefed on Operation Sindoor and India's security perspective. He was also briefed by other senior officers of the Indian Army on matters of mutual interest, the Ministry of Defence said in its statement. It also mentioned that Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo thereafter met with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff and Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary. These meetings provided an opportunity for the exchange of views on broader defence and security issues, focusing on matters of mutual interests. Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo also planted a tree at the Manekshaw Centre, symbolising time-tested relation of Indian and Sri Lanka Army. As per the Defence Ministry, on June 12, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo is scheduled to visit Jaipur and meet Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command. (ANI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store