The seizure of drugs in the country completes its first cut of the year with an advance that the authorities themselves describe as a “medium level.” An intelligence document known to EL TIEMPO indicates that, as of April 8, 2026, the pace of operations does not yet reach the annual projection, despite the commitments recently acquired by the government of Gustavo Petro with that of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking.
The interdiction balance, to date, records an advance of 160,789 kilograms compared to an annual goal of 417,000, which supports the level of compliance.
The projection, which is known without knowing exactly what the increase in coca production was in recent years, in the absence of the Simci report, is contrasted with the 681,094 kilograms reported throughout 2025.reference used by the authorities to measure the behavior of operations at the start of the year.
The figures show the gap compared to the annual objectives, especially in components such as coca base, base paste and marijuana. Added to this is a delay in the intervention of illegal infrastructure, where the results, although constant, remain distant from the set goals.
Controlled destruction of a laboratory for the processing of coca base paste. Photo:Courtesy
In the case of the Army, the report details that the goal for 2026 in cocaine hydrochloride is set at 64,260 kilograms, with an advance of 35,301 kilograms. For coca base and base paste, the projection is 47,680 kilograms and the reported result reaches 4,780.
In marijuana, the goal amounts to 135,150 kilograms, while seizures total 20,612. In terms of infrastructure, the land force reports 49 laboratories destroyed compared to a goal of 131, and 692 Illegal structures dismantled from a target of 2,648.
The cargo had left the department of Cauca and was destined for the capital of the country Photo:Valle del Cauca Police
The National Navy concentrates most of the results in maritime interdiction. For cocaine hydrochloride, The established goal is 390,150 kilograms, with 124,763 seized until the cutoff. Based on coca and base paste, the objective is 11,324 kilograms and progress reaches 4,293. In marijuana, the projection is 121,900 kilograms, with 23,233 seized. In terms of infrastructure, the Navy reports one laboratory intervened against a goal of 13, and 142 structures dismantled against a goal of 436.
One of the destroyed laboratories. Photo:National Army
For its part, The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) presents more limited goals in volume, associated with its role in surveillance and support. In cocaine hydrochloride, the goal for 2026 is 4,590 kilograms, with a progress of 725.
In coca base and base paste, the projection is 1,192 kilograms and there are no seizures in the period. For marijuana, the goal is 5,300 kilograms and the result reaches 16. Regarding infrastructure, a laboratory intervened reports a goal of 2 and 84 structures dismantled against a goal of 32.
Taking into account the figures, facing the coming months, the challenge for the authorities will be to accelerate operations and close the gaps in seizures and infrastructure intervention, in a scenario where the dynamics of drug trafficking continues to adjust its routes and methods.
Justice Editorial
Justicia@eltiempo.com
