The public order situation in Cauca once again focused the attention of the authorities after a chain of violent events recorded in several municipalities of the department during this festive long weekend. Attacks with explosives, the use of drones to launch devices and combats between Army troops and armed groups Illegals left a complex security panorama that left three civilians injured and mobility affected.
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One of the most serious episodes It was registered in the early hours of this Monday in the sector of El Bordo tollin the jurisdiction of the municipality of La Sierra, where troops from the 29th Brigade responded to a terrorist attack preliminarily attributed to members of the Carlos Patiño structureof the FARC dissidents commanded by ‘Iván Mordisco’.
According to initial reports, Those responsible would have used a vehicle equipped with explosivesa modality that once again highlights the threat that these devices represent in areas of frequent traffic.
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Pan-American Highway Photo:National Army / Social networks / X: @VickyDavilaH
The preliminary balance shows three civilians injuredwhile the military deployed in the sector did not report any damage. The explosion forced the passage to be closed for this point of the Pan-American Highwaywhile Army units, with support from air capabilities and specialized personnel, verifications were carried out in coordination with the National Police to secure the area and establish the circumstances of the attack.
The concern goes beyond the damage that a detonation may cause. The Panamericana corridor is essential for the transport of passengers and merchandise in the southwest of the country, so any attack on this road axis has an impact on the mobility of communities and in the economic activities of the region. Furthermore, the presence of explosives requires extreme security measures before completely restoring traffic.
In the midst of these events, President Abelardo De La Espriella condemned the attack against the toll and warned of its consequences for the population. “I deplore the terrorist attack against the El Bordo tollbooth, on the Pan-American highway, municipality of La Sierra, department of Cauca. The explosion forced the passage to be closed while authorities secure the area.
Result of the fighting in Cauca. Photo:Courtesy
“Attacking infrastructure hurts peopleto transporters and to all those who need to move. Every attack by narcoterrorists will have consequences. We will pursue them and they will answer to justice“said the head of state.
Other acts of violence
The National Army in the last 72 hours has maintained an offensive against the structures of the Western Block Jacobo Arenas, at the service of alias Iván Mordisco, with military operations in Timbío and Cajibío, Cauca. The actions, supported by military intelligence, the Army Aviation and the Colombian Air Force, and coordinated with the National Police, They left four alleged members captured and two members of the Jaime Martínez structure dead in development of military operations.
One of the procedures was carried out on the Pan-American highway, in the El Bohío sector, in Timbío, where four alleged members were captured of the Carlos Patiño structure that, according to preliminary information, They intended to carry out a terrorist action against the civilian population.
During the operation, Troops seized two long weaponsfour short weapons, a signal jammer, a vehicle, ammunition of different calibers and quartermaster material, elements that would affect armed capabilities and logistics of this organization.
Troops deployed in Cauca. Photo:Particular
However, The operation also left a loss in the ranks of the Army. First Sergeant Ángel David Ordóñez Ortiznative of Bucaramanga, died during the fighting while leading maneuvers to protect travelers and neutralize the threat in the road corridor. His death occurred in the middle of an intervention aimed at prevent violent actions against those who mobilize along this important route in the southwest of the country.
In a second operation, carried out during more than three hours of fighting in the El Dinde village, in Cajibío, The troops confronted members of the Jaime Martínez structure and reported the death of two alleged members of the armed group. In the place too a laboratory was destroyed in a controlled manner of coca base paste that, according to military information, would have the capacity to produce around a ton of cocaine hydrochloride per month.
Besides, A drone equipped with explosives was seizeda 60 millimeter mortar, five non-conventional grenades, two long weapons, two short weapons, suppliers, ammunition and quartermaster material. With these results, The Army seeks to weaken armed capabilitieslogistical and financial of the illegal structures that operate in Cauca.
To these results a blow was added to illicit economies of the armed group. During the operation a laboratory was located in which 105 kilograms of coca base paste were found and 1,500 gallons of ACPM. The finding points to the existence of resources and infrastructure linked to illegal activities that can contribute to the maintenance of the organization.
The military results occur in a context in which The authorities seek to contain the presence of different armed organizations in Cauca. However, offensive actions and blows to its resources coexist with violent events that continue to expose the population to the risks of conflict.
The soldier who was murdered in Cauca. Photo:Courtesy
A soldier died in a drone attack in La Vega
Another of the most serious events was recorded during the night of October 10, 2026 in the Altamira sector, municipality of La Vega. Over there, troops of the Mountain Battalion No. 4 were attacked by launching explosive devices from an unmanned aerial system, that is, a drone.
The action was preliminarily attributed to members of the National Liberation Army (Eln) and left the professional soldier Luis David Arrieta Osorio as a fatal victimwho was carrying out military operations in this area of the department.
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The death of the uniformed man once again puts on the table the risk that represents the use of drones adapted to launch explosives in confrontational scenarios. This modality allows you to attack from the air and at a distance, what poses new challenges for deployed units in territories where illegal armed structures operate.
The Army repelled the attack and warned about the risks What the use of these devices entails for both members of the Public Force and the inhabitants of nearby communities. The institution also expressed his condolences to the familyfriends and colleagues of Arrieta Osorio and arranged an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive accompaniment and psychosocial support to his loved ones.
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