Mexican drug cartels infiltrate Colombia’s cocaine industry
- Colombia is the world's largest cocaine producer
- 443 tons of cocaine seized in first half of 2024
- Drug cartels use divers to transport drugs
FILE — In this photo released by the Colombian Presidential Press Office, May 4, 2022, police escort Dairo Antonio Usuga, front row second from right, also known as “Otoniel,” leader of the violent Clan del Golfo cartel, prior to his extradition to the U.S., at a military airport in Bogota, Colombia. Usuga, 51, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, to U.S. smuggling charges, admitting that he led a cartel and paramilitary group that trafficked in cocaine and deadly violence. (Colombian Presidential Press Office via AP, File)
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(NewsNation) — Three of the largest Mexican drug cartels have become embedded in Colombian territories over the past two years, infiltrating the country’s cocaine distribution industry by partnering with local gangs to move drugs internationally, according to a government report.
An agency of the Colombia Public Ministry reported that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa Cartel, have spread throughout Colombian provinces as part of the operation, according to a published report.
An investigation conducted by the Ombudsman’s Office of the Colombian Public Ministry determined that the three Mexican organized crime groups have embedded themselves in the country’s Atlantic territories. The Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have begun operating along the Caribbean coast while the Los Zetas Cartel has spread throughout the Colombian province of Cali, government officials said.
Daniel Adler, an Argentine specialist in security and urban counterterrorism, told Diálogo that Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine producer, which makes it a prime target for the Mexican cartels.
“Because of its location, it serves as a platform for exporting alkaloids to the Americas and Europe,” Adler told the publication last month.
According to the report, Colombian cocaine seizures increased to more than 443 tons over the first half of this year. The data shows the increased seizures showed not only increased production of cocaine in the country, but also more aggressive drug trafficking efforts in the country.
“The Colombians have a monopoly on cocaine production, but we know that they also want to gain space in the methamphetamine, heroin, and creepy marijuana markets,” a narcotics agent told El Colombiano in July.
Reports have indicated that of the three cartels, the Sinaloa Cartel poses the biggest threat because of its global networks in moving cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Reuters reported in 2022 that the cartels were shipping powerful weapons, including machine guns, semi-automatic handguns, and assault rifles to Colombia to purchase cocaine shipments.
According to Colombian media outlet RCN Noticia, the three cartels use benefits from the profits made from drug trafficking and other criminal activities. The criminal organizations then use local gangs to move the drugs around various areas, the report indicated.
Colombian officials have determined that the Sinaloa cartel uses sacks to transport the drugs. However, an investigation found that dating back to 2022, cartels have used artisanal divers to transport drugs under the hulls of ships where other divers transfer the drugs into other sacks, the Diálogo report indicated.
