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23 clusters · 134 sources · 99 days · First seen · Last updated

Colombia intensifies crackdown and ends peace talks

Overview

The 2026 Colombian government offensive against dissident FARC factions, the Clan del Golfo, and the ELN has intensified, marked by significant narcotics seizures and a breakdown in negotiations. President Abelardo de la Espriella officially terminated peace negotiations with the Estado Mayor de los Bloques Magdalena Medio (EMBF), the Coordinadora Nacional Ejército Bolivariano (CNEB), and the Autodefensas Conquistadores de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), citing a lack of genuine willingness to reach agreements.

Military operations have escalated in Guaviare, Nariño, and Cauca. Following a strike in El Retorno, the government launched ‘Operación Militar Azarías’ against the Frente Carolina Ramírez, resulting in at least eight combatants killed. In El Peñol, Nariño, security forces engaged the Franco Benavides front of the FARC dissidents (Estado Mayor Central), killing seven members and capturing five others while seizing various firearms and ammunition. In La Sierra, Cauca, authorities captured an ELN leader known as ‘el Flaco,’ a commission leader for the Manuel Vásquez Castaño Front allegedly linked to extortion, kidnapping, and forced recruitment.

Under ‘Operación Centinela de la Patria,’ security forces killed Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, known as ‘Bendito Menor,’ a high-ranking leader of the ACSN’s Javier Cáceres front, in Riohacha, La Guajira. His death has triggered a power struggle within the ACSN, with authorities identifying alias ‘Cholo,’ the second-in-command, and alias ‘Patilizo,’ head of the Bloque Cóndor de la Sierra, as potential successors. The ACSN remains in conflict with the Clan del Golfo over Caribbean trafficking routes.

Additionally, authorities reported drug seizures in Barrancabermeja, including ketamine and fentanyl. Medicina Legal has denied responsibility for graphic images of the deceased that circulated on social media, stating the photos were not taken by its personnel.

Entities

Abelardo De La Espriella · FARC dissidents · Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada · Colombia · Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. 10 days ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Colombia military operations kill 7 FARC dissidents and capture ELN leader

    Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella confirmed the death of seven FARC dissidents in Nariño and the capture of an ELN leader, 'el Flaco,' in Cauca during recent military operations.

  2. 12 days ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    ACSN leadership dispute follows death of ‘Bendito Menor’

    The death of ACSN leader ‘Bendito Menor’ in a Colombian military operation has sparked a leadership dispute between two high-ranking members while Medicina Legal denies involvement in leaked photos of the crime

  3. 14 days ago

    [CRIME] 20 sources
    Bendito Menor death sparks political debate and armed funeral in Colombia

    The death of criminal leader 'Bendito Menor' in Riohacha has sparked debate between President De La Espriella and former President Petro over police use of force and a controversial, armed funeral convoy.

  4. 15 days ago

    [CRIME] 9 sources
    Riohacha police operation kills ACSN leader and partner

    Forensic experts identified four people killed in a Riohacha police operation, including ACSN leader ‘Bendito Menor’ and his partner ‘La Bebecita’.

  5. 17 days ago

    [CRIME] 76 sources
    Bendito Menor: ACSN leader killed in Riohacha police operation

    Colombian police neutralized ACSN leader Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, alias ‘Bendito Menor’, in a Riohacha operation that left four people dead, including his partner and two security guards.

  6. 24 days ago

    [POLITICS] 32 sources
    Colombia: President ends peace talks and launches military operations

    President Abelardo de la Espriella has ended peace talks with several Colombian armed groups and ordered increased military operations, including strikes in Guaviare and major drug seizures.

  7. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Guerrilla attacks escalate in Colombia's Huila and Norte de Santander

    Guerrilla groups FARC and ELN have launched a series of attacks in Colombia, including ambushes in Huila and drone strikes in Norte de Santander, prompting increased military explosive neutralization efforts.

  8. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Colombian military operations target major criminal groups

    Colombian military operations resulted in the capture of a high-ranking Clan del Golfo leader in Chocó and four members of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra in Cesar.

  9. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Colombia military destroys drug lab and seizes 1.8 tons of cocaine

    The Colombian army destroyed a drug lab and seized 1.8 tons of cocaine in Mercaderes, an operation linked to the US-Colombia anti-drug alliance and attributed to the ELN rebel group.

  10. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 15 sources
    Colombia military operations rescue hostage and neutralize criminal leaders

    Colombian security forces rescued a hostage held for 11 months by FARC dissidents, neutralized a Clan del Golfo leader in Antioquia, and seized 2.3 tons of cocaine in Nariño.

  11. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 17 sources
    Colombian Army seizes weapons, dismantles drug labs in operations

    The Colombian Army neutralised Calarcá weapon caches in Guaviare, captured 18 FARC dissidents in Tumaco, accepted the surrender of a former guerrilla, and dismantled an ELN cocaine‑processing lab in Norte de S.

  12. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 8 sources
    Armed clashes in Briceño, Antioquia force displacement of 78 people

    Clashes between Clan del Golfo and FARC dissident fronts in Briceño, Antioquia, using drones, have killed three and displaced 78 people, prompting emergency response.

  13. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Law enforcement dismantles clandestine labs in Dominican Republic and Colombia

    Police in the Dominican Republic shut down an illegal clerén lab and recovered a stolen motorcycle, while Colombian army forces seized a potassium permanganate facility tied to the Clan del Golfo, arresting two

  14. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Colombia's cocaine production triples as new armed groups drive surge

    Colombia's cocaine production has tripled in ten years, now driven by profit‑focused armed groups rather than FARC, raising concerns amid high European demand.

  15. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Colombian Army Destroys Cocaine Lab and Neutralizes Clan del Golfo Members in Separate Operations

    Colombian army destroyed a cocaine lab in Nariño and killed two Clan del Golfo suspects in Antioquia, seizing drugs, weapons and equipment.

  16. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 7 sources
    Colombia launches bombings in Amalfi and confronts deadly mining protests in Segovia amid Clan del Golfo crackdown

    Colombia bombed a Clan del Golfo faction in Amalfi while a police raid on illegal gold mining in Segovia sparked deadly protests, reflecting the government's crackdown on the criminal group.

  17. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Colombia kills two Clan del Golfo members and seizes chemicals for 70 tons of cocaine

    Colombia's army and air force killed two suspected Clan del Golfo members in Antioquia, while police seized chemicals enough for 70 tons of cocaine on the Bogotá‑Villavicencio road, capturing four drivers.

  18. 3 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Colombia confronts intimidation by Clan del Golfo and FARCs dissidents

    Colombia's Clan del Golfo threatened a Caracol Radio journalist, while FARCs dissidents in Nariño forced voters to pay a 30‑million‑peso tax for supporting De La Espriella.

  19. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    FARC dissident group threatens miners in Colombia's Antioquia region

    FARC dissident militants in Antioquia issued a threatening pamphlet against miners, linking them to the Clan del Golfo, amid investigations and heightened security after a recent massacre.

  20. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Colombia captures Farc dissident leader ‘Mono Huevo’ in Meta

    Colombian forces captured Farc dissident leader ‘Mono Huevo’ in Meta on 23 June; locals briefly detained soldiers, delaying his helicopter evacuation.

  21. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Four farmers killed by FARC dissidents in Remedios, Antioquia

    FARC dissidents killed four farmers, including a husband‑wife pair, during a kidnapping in Remedios, Antioquia; bodies were found after a 24‑hour search.

  22. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    FARC dissident front kills three and kidnaps four in Remedios, Antioquia

    FARC dissident Front Four attacked a farm in Remedios, Antioquia on 6 June 2026, killing three, kidnapping four, demanding a 60 million‑peso ransom, and sparking a search by authorities.

  23. 4 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Colombia raids FARCR dissident groups, captures “Mona” and seizes weapons

    Colombia’s security forces seized weapons and captured three FARCR dissidents, including female leader “Mona”, after a bombing ordered by President Petro in Guaviare.

Sources

360radio.com.co · abriendobrecha.tv · actualidad.rt.com · aktuality.sk · alcarajo.org · animalhousehospital.com · ariadna.elmundo.es · baoquangtri.vn · barrigaverde.net · bilder3.n-tv.de · blogs.unicamp.br · boyacadigital.com · bs-media.de · ca.sports.yahoo.com · cablenoticias.tv · cedarnews.net · chacodiapordia.com · colmundoradio.com.co · colombia.com · costanoticias.com · diariocorreo.pe · diariodecasanare.com · diariodelcauca.com.co · diariodelhuila.com · diariodelnorte.net · diariodelsur.com.co · diarioestrategia.cl · diariojuridico.com · diariopanorama.com · diarioriente.com · diariosanrafael.com.ar · el-carabobeno.com · elcallejero.co · elciudadanoweb.com · eldia.com.do · eldiario.com.co · elespectador.com · elexpediente.co · elfinanciero.com.mx · elfrente.com.co · eljaya.com · elmonterizo.com · elnorte.com.co · elnuevodia.com.co · elnuevodiario.com.do · elnuevosiglo.com.co · elpaisvallenato.com · elperiodicodeportivo.com.co

This summary has been updated 29 times: see revision history