Armed group activity in Briceño, Colombia

In August 2026, a joint operation by the Colombian National Army and the Technical Investigation Body (CTI) dismantled a clandestine explosives workshop in the rural areas of Briceño, Antioquia. The raid targeted the logistics of the FARC dissident group known as Estructura 36. Authorities seized an AK-47 rifle, approximately 1,000 cartridges, 30 fragmentation grenades, 25 improvised explosive devices, seven anti-personnel mines, and roughly 100 kilograms of high-power explosives. The operation also resulted in the arrest of a woman known as ‘La Mona’, identified as an explosives expert responsible for managing drones. Intelligence indicated the workshop might be linked to an alliance between FARC dissidents and the Clan del Golfo.

By September 2026, the Colombian National Army’s Seventh Division conducted a follow-up operation in the Palmichal area of Briceño, destroying over 130 kilograms of explosives. The seized materials included a 60-pound cylinder, two improvised explosive devices, and five 81mm improvised grenades adapted for drone deployment. Military authorities attributed these materials to the Frente 36 of the FARC dissidents, noting they were intended for attacks against civilians and the Public Force. The Briceño region remains a contested area involving FARC dissidents, the ELN, and the Clan del Golfo.