International
Commissioner recognizes that the Government of Colombia did not analyze an alert of violence in the Catatumbo
The Commissioner of the Peace of Colombia, Otty Patiño, acknowledged on Monday that the Government did not analyze the early warning issued last year by the Ombudsman’s Office about a possible confrontation between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a FARC dissident in the Catatumbo region, as has been the case since January 16.
“What was noticeable through the alerts was an exacerbation of the conflict. There was not, and I want to be very self-critical, an in-depth analysis of why that exacerbation of the confrontations between those who had a situation of coexistence, between what they call (…) the Front 33, and the ELN in that region,” said Patiño.
Patiño participated in a technical session of the unconstitutional state of affairs (ECI) of the security guarantees to the signatories of the Peace Agreement, organized by the Constitutional Court, in which they talked about what is happening in the Catatumbo, a region located in the department of Norte de Santander, since the guerrilla violence has left at least six FARC ex-combatants killed.
The humanitarian and security crisis in Catatumbo was something announced by various authorities, including the Ombudsman’s Office, which on November 15 warned, through its early warning system, of “the risk situation” for the civilian population due to the presence and threats of illegal armed groups.
Since January 16, the clashes between the ELN guerrillas and the 33rd Front of the FARC dissidents in the Catatumbo have left between 60 and 80 dead according to the counts of the Ombudsman’s Office and the Government of Norte de Santander, while the number of displaced people is more than 50,000 people.
However, the authorities have only been able to collect 47 bodies due to the situation that the most remote rural areas continue to experience, where the authorities have not yet been able to access.
In addition, it became known that a humanitarian commission, led by the Catholic Church, the UN Mission in Colombia and the Ombudsman’s Office, will address the crisis in the Catatumbo region (border with Venezuela), caused by guerrilla violence that since January 16 has left at least 47 dead.
The Ombudsman’s Office detailed on Monday that the objective is to “address the situation in the Catatumbo region, in order to improve the lives of people in vulnerable situations” due to the clashes between the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the 33rd Front of the FARC dissidents in that region of the department of Norte de Santander.
“The Northeast War Front of the ELN has committed to respecting the actions of the humanitarian commission,” the agency added.
International
Mexican authorities bust Meth Lab and seize tons of drugs and chemicals in multiple states
Mexican authorities dismantled a clandestine laboratory containing 2.5 tons of methamphetamine in the southeastern state of Chiapas, seized a warehouse with more than four tons of chemical precursors in Guerrero (south), and intercepted a trailer in Tijuana attempting to cross into the United States with 2.7 tons of drugs.
Omar García Harfuch, head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), reported on Saturday via social media that agents from the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), along with representatives from the Defense Secretariat, Navy (Semar), National Guard (GN), and SSPC, disabled the methamphetamine production lab in Chiapas and confiscated 2.5 tons of the drug.
A statement specified that the agents secured 2.5 tons of methamphetamine, barrels containing substances used to manufacture synthetic drugs, a firearm, and four trucks. In another operation in Guerrero, authorities located over four tons of chemical substances.
The discovery took place on a property in the community of Margarita Maza, Juárez, used to store materials for synthetic drug production. Sufficient evidence was collected and presented to a control judge who authorized the intervention of the property.
In Chiapas, authorities also seized more than 300 barrels and containers with chemicals for making synthetic drugs, as well as various metal containers and devices.
International
Maduro gains support from Venezuelan Assembly amid U.S. drug trafficking accusations
The National Assembly of Venezuela expressed its support this Saturday for President Nicolás Maduro, condemning the United States’ increase in the reward offered for his capture as an “act of aggression.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Thursday that Washington had doubled the reward to $50 million for Maduro’s capture, labeling him as one of the “world’s largest drug traffickers.”
“We reject the absurd and desperate actions announced by the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, which are clearly illegal and lack any real basis, beyond being a delirious attempt of aggression against the president (…) and against our rebellious and brave people,” said the Assembly leader, Jorge Rodríguez, while reading a letter he said was unanimously approved by the deputies.
“It is precisely President Nicolás Maduro (…) the protector of the strong democracy that shelters us and the leader who firmly upholds the rule of law and justice,” Rodríguez continued. He is also Venezuela’s chief negotiator in talks with Washington.
Bondi accused Maduro of using “terrorist organizations like the Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa cartel, and the Cartel of the Suns to introduce lethal drugs and violence” into the United States.
“In 25 years of revolution, we have resisted and advanced despite constant imperialist aggressions. They have not succeeded, and will not succeed, with crude sanctions, criminal blockades, or senseless threats in diverting the noble path the Venezuelan people charted in the free elections of July 28, 2024, in which Nicolás Maduro was elected President of the Republic,” the statement read.
The Venezuelan opposition alleges fraud in those elections and claims victory, and as a result, has boycotted the 2025 legislative, regional, and municipal elections.
International
U.S. doubles bounty on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to $50 million
In February, the United States designated eight Latin American criminal organizations as “global terrorist” groups, including Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and the MS-13 gang. In July, it added the Cartel of the Suns to the list — a group Washington claims is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, raising it from $25 million to $50 million, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media platform X.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that labeling the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization allows for a strategic shift in dealing with the Venezuelan regime, as it is now also considered a direct threat to U.S. national security, according to El Espectador.
In an interview with The World Over on EWTN, Rubio said the designation enables the U.S. to “use intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, or any other element of American power to go after them.” He stressed this is no longer just a law enforcement matter, but a national security operation.
When asked at the White House whether he believes it is worth sending the military to combat Latin American drug cartels, Trump responded:
“Latin America has many cartels, a lot of drug trafficking, so, you know, we want to protect our country. We have to protect it.”
Mexican authorities bust Meth Lab and seize tons of drugs and chemicals in multiple states
Maduro gains support from Venezuelan Assembly amid U.S. drug trafficking accusations
U.S. doubles bounty on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to $50 million
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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