Bogotá, Sep 23 (EFE).-
The Colombian government deployed over 1,100 security forces to Santa Marta, in the northern part of the country, on Wednesday.
According to the Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella the deployment was in response to violence unleashed by the paramilitary group Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN). The government assured the public that it maintains control of the tourist city.
The president led a security meeting with local and national authorities in Santa Marta early Wednesday and announced that more than 500 soldiers and 600 police officers will be deployed in Santa Marta and the neighboring municipality of Ciénaga as part of a security operation.
“Our law enforcement agencies have public order and security under control in Santa Marta, Ciénaga, and along the Caribbean Highway,” the president said, referring to the main highway.
De la Espriella said that his government will pursue those responsible for disrupting public order in the region.
“Rest assured that we will soon track down those behind this entire terror campaign. Aka Pinocchio, Patilizo, Flash, Comando, and aka Jacob or Comando 45 are narco-terrorists from the Sierra Nevada Conquering Self-Defense Forces. I’m coming for you,” he concluded.
On Wednesday morning, the city woke up to reduced activity in some areas, with closed businesses and few people on the streets, after Tuesday’s attacks on vehicles and commercial establishments.
The Ministry of Defense reported that the military deployment includes special forces units, river patrols, and continuous Air Force flyovers over Santa Marta and its outlying areas.
As part of the government’s response, the president announced the transfer of approximately 76 detainees with ties to the ACSN. These detainees are currently being held in prisons in the northern departments of La Guajira, Cesar, Magdalena, and Atlántico.
De la Espriella ordered the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC) to transfer the detainees to maximum-security wings in prisons in other regions of the country. He argued that this would prevent the detainees from continuing to issue orders from within their detention facilities.
“I will not allow those who commit crimes in these departments to remain incarcerated there and continue ordering riots, extortions, and murders from prison!” the president wrote on X.
The Colombian government maintained that these measures are in response to the ACSN’s violent actions since Monday, following the death of its second-in-command, Cholo, in a law enforcement operation.EFE enb/dgp
