Colombia seizes large weapon arsenal belonging to FARC rebels

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - The Colombian police announced Monday that it has seized the largest arsenal of weapons in recent years in the department of Narino, in the country's southwest.

Police Director General Henry Armando Sanabria told reporters that authorities confiscated 33 rifles, an M-60 machine gun, three pistols, two grenades and more than 30,000 bullets, as well as two satellite phones, among other items belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.

"The confiscated arsenal constitutes one of the most important blows in recent years," Sanabria said. "This will prevent the strengthening of the armed group," he added.

The officer reported that the weapons were being transported in vehicles on the Pan-American Highway, the main road that crosses the southwest of the country. The police saw two cars that were badly parked and inside they found the weapons next to uniforms, vests, and armbands with the logo "Columna Móvil Jaime Martínez-FARC EP”.

The Colombian police reported that more than 15,000 firearms were seized in 2022, while 345 have been seized so far in 2023.

According to Sabaria, the police are trying to establish whether the armament was purchased on the black market or stolen from the police and military forces on different occasions over several years.

He said that it remains to be seen whether the mobilization of these weapons constitutes a violation of the six-month bilateral ceasefire that the group agreed to with Gustavo Petro's government two weeks ago.

Despite the peace agreement signed by the FARC guerrillas and the government in 2016, violence has intensified in the country.

After the signing of the peace accord, a FARC unit of dissidents said it would not lay down arms and that it would continue fighting. Other armed groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Gulf Clan also remain active in the country.