Colombian military strikes Clan del Golfo in Chocó and Antio

The Colombian military has conducted airstrikes against Clan del Golfo structures in the Chocó department. President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that at least six suspected members of the cartel were “neutralized” and one person was captured during a recent operation, though officials noted the death toll could rise.

This operation follows a series of airstrikes since the president took office in August. The use of aerial strikes has been a point of public contention due to previous incidents involving civilian casualties, including children. While a court had previously mandated “increased caution” and reinforced verification of minors' presence in targeted areas, the Superior Tribunal of Bogotá recently overturned those restrictions. The tribunal ruled that the legal action was improper because specific minors at risk were not sufficiently identified and no concrete military operations were cited to establish an imminent threat.

In response to ongoing anti-drug trafficking efforts, the Colombian Ministry of Defense announced that over 300 U.S. military personnel are expected to arrive in the country for joint exercises.

More recently, the government launched Operation Oppenheimer, a military and aerial offensive against the Clan del Golfo. In Nóvita, Chocó, the operation resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Edwin Guzmán Martínez sub-structure, including Jason Arley García, known as alias Canoso. The government identified García as a high-ranking leader responsible for managing military operations, finances, and territorial expansion. During the Chocó strike, security forces captured one individual and seized an arsenal of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. In a coordinated raid in Cáceres, Antioquia, the Army and Police captured two alleged members of the Yeison Leudo Chaverra sub-structure, seizing cocaine, gold, and cash.