Stolen Boats, Weapons Found at Criminal Hub in Colombia's Magdalena Region

Colombian Navy forces have dismantled a significant logistics hub used by criminal organizations in the Ciénaga del Torno, a wetland area in Sitionuevo, Magdalena. The operation, the result of months of intelligence gathering, uncovered a platform crucial for supporting drug trafficking and other illegal activities in the Atlántico and Magdalena regions.

Authorities discovered five stolen boats, along with a cache of weapons, ammunition, and communication and navigation equipment. These items are believed to have been used by groups like the Clan del Golfo and the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada to facilitate their operations. The location's strategic importance lies in its connection to major riverine corridors, including those leading to Barranquilla.

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They would be used to support activities associated with drug trafficking and other illegal economies in the region.

The discovery highlights the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime in the region. The Navy stated that the recovered materials were likely used in activities that directly impact local communities, including fishermen and river transporters, who rely on these waterways for their livelihoods.

Criminal groups have been exploiting remote and hard-to-access areas like the Ciénaga del Torno to temporarily store their assets and equipment, evading constant surveillance. Among the seized items were a Mini Uzi submachine gun, a traumatic pistol, satellite phone, and GPS devices, underscoring the sophisticated nature of these operations.

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These vessels were an essential component within the logistics of the criminal organizations identified in the investigation.