Armed groups target vehicles along Colombia's Troncal del Caribe

Armed groups have carried out a series of attacks along the Troncal del Caribe in Colombia, including the arson of a Servientrega cargo truck in the Dibulla jurisdiction and two public transport buses in Santa Marta. These incidents occurred following a military operation that resulted in the death of an individual identified as ‘Cholo’, the second-in-command of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN).

In the Dibulla sector, masked men intercepted a delivery vehicle and forced occupants to descend before setting the truck on fire. Meanwhile, in Santa Marta, the burning of buses near the Once de Noviembre neighborhood has caused significant mobility issues between Santa Marta, Guachaca, and La Guajira. The attacks follow a communication attributed to the ACSN announcing a potential 48-hour armed strike in response to recent law enforcement actions.

In response to the escalating insecurity, President Abelardo De La Espriella announced an extraordinary security council in Santa Marta, stating he will not allow criminal structures to intimidate citizens through terror. The Magdalena Governorate has also activated a Unified Command Post to coordinate an institutional response to the crisis in this strategic transport corridor.