Colombia President Ivan Duque announced on Monday the creation of a new elite commando unit to fight Marxist rebels and drug-traffickers that seek refuge in neighboring Venezuela.

Duque told Radio Nacional the country would launch the Specialist Commando against Drug-trafficking and Transnational Threats on February 26 and be "fully operational" in May.

He said the "aim for this year is to strike at the heads of narcoterrorism."

He specifically mentioned the likes of Ivan Marquez and Jesus Santrich, two former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who initially joined the historic 2016 peace process that turned the Marxist rebels into a political party before fleeing to join dissident ranks in 2019.

Duque also named leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN), recognized as the last remaining active guerrilla movement in the country, and the Clan del Golfo drug-trafficking cartel.

"Obviously many of them are protected in Venezuela," he said, claiming President Nicolas Maduro left them free to "conduct drug-trafficking operations."

According to military intelligence, there are 1,400 members of Colombian armed groups operating in Venezuela and moving freely across the poorly controlled 2,200-kilometer (1,300 mile) border between the South American neighbors.

"Here there is no refuge. Wherever the criminals want to be there must be justice," said Duque.

He announced a system of collaboration and reward for anyone in Venezuela "prepared to supply us with information to capture these shameless people."

Duque didn't mention direct military action on Venezuelan territory.

In 2008, Colombia executed a FARC leader on Ecuadorian soil, sparking a serious diplomatic crisis with Quito, whose president at the time, Rafael Correa, was a socialist ally of Venezuela's.

Despite the 2016 peace accord, Colombia continues to battle a multi-faceted armed conflict involving leftist guerrillas, drug-traffickers and right-wing paramilitaries competing for control of the lucrative cocaine and illegal mineral extraction industries.

Colombia has repeatedly accused Venezuela of providing refuge to armed groups, which Caracas denies.

Related Links
Space War News

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Saudi renews support for Yemen political solution after Biden speech
Riyadh (AFP) Feb 4, 2021
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed support for a "comprehensive political solution" in Yemen, state media reported early Friday, after President Joe Biden ended US support for the kingdom's military campaign in the country. "The kingdom has affirmed its firm position in support of a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, and welcomes the US emphasis on the importance of supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis," the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Arabia also w ... read more