UN: Colombia Sets New Cocaine Production Record The UN Office on Drugs and Crime stated in a report released on Monday that the estimated cocaine output in Colombia — the world's biggest producer of the drug — increased by 24% in 2022, soaring to 1,738 tons and setting a new record high.... Crime & Justice
Colombian Drug Lord Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison in US A Brooklyn federal judge on Tuesday sentenced the infamous Colombian cocaine trafficker Dairo Antonio Úsuga David — known by the alias Otoniel — to 45 years in jail. Colombia
US Migration Offices to Open in Colombia Colombia's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that two offices for migrants hoping to reach the US would open in the country as part of a "Safe Mobility" initiative between the US and Latin American countries designed to curb dangerous migrant passages to the US. Politics
Report: Deforestation in Colombia Dropped by 29% According to recently released government statistics, deforestation in Colombia dropped by 29% in 2022. This marks the lowest level in nearly ten years. Colombia
Colombia's Last Active Guerrilla Group Agrees to Truce Colombia’s largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), stated on Tuesday that it has ordered its units across the country to halt all offensive actions against the military, including intelligence efforts, on July 6, as both sides prepare for a ceasefire. Social issues
Colombia Plane Crash: Four Children Found Alive After 40 Days Four Indigenous Colombian children — aged 13, 9, 4, and 1 — who survived 40 days in the Amazon jungle after their plane crashed on May 1st, have begun giving details about how they survived after they were rescued on Friday. World
Colombia, ELN Rebels Sign Six-Month Ceasefire On Friday, Colombia's government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) — its largest remaining rebel group — signed a six-month ceasefire to end nearly 60 years of armed conflict. Politics
Colombia Suspends Ceasefire With EMC-FARC Rebels Colombia's Pres. Gustavo Petro has unilaterally suspended a ceasefire with the rebel group Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a dissident offshoot of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), allowing the military to resume operations in four southern provinces. Military
Colombia: 4 Children Possibly Found Alive After Plane Crash On Wednesday, Colombian Pres. Gustavo Petro made a statement that four children had been found alive more than two weeks after the plane they were traveling in crashed into the dense jungle of the Caqueta province. World
Colombia: Ex-Paramilitary Leader Testifies About Alleged Assassinations Former Colombian paramilitary leader of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Salvatore Mancuso, testified this week before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) tribunal, where he discussed alleged assassination programs orchestrated during the country’s decades-long internal conflict. Military
US to Open Migrant Centers in Latin America, Expedite Deportations As the Title 42 COVID restrictions on immigration are set to expire next month, the US will establish regional processing centers for migrants in Colombia and Guatemala to reduce arrivals at the southern border. Social issues
Biden Hosts Colombia Leader Petro At White House On Thursday, US Pres. Joe Biden hosted his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro for talks amid mounting differences on drug policy and Venezuela but with a common goal of enhancing cooperation on areas such as climate change and migration. World
Mexico Opens Homicide Probe into Migrant Center Fire On Wednesday, Mexican authorities announced a probe into the deadly blaze at a migrant detention center in Ciudad Juárez earlier this week, as public servants and private security guards allegedly took no action to help detainees escape.... Illegal aliens
Colombia: Mine Explosion Kills 21 On Thursday, Colombian Pres. Gustavo Petro announced that the death toll from a mine collapse on Tuesday had risen to 21 after rescue operations ended and failed to rescue 10 trapped miners.... Colombia
Colombia Protests: 79 Police Officers Taken Hostage A police officer and a civilian were reportedly killed and 79 officers and nine oilfield workers were taken hostage on Thursday in Colombia's Caqueta province. This occurred during violent protests against the Emerald Energy oil company.... Colombia
Colombia: Fight Between Armed Groups Leaves at Least 18 Dead Colombia's Defense Minister told reporters on Monday that at least 18 people died on Saturday as a result of clashes between dissident factions fighting for control of drug trafficking routes. The conflict took place in Puerto Guzmán, about 60km (37 miles) from the border with Ecuador.... Colombia
Colombia: ELN Rebel Group Denies Ceasefire Colombia's largest remaining armed group, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN), on Tuesday rejected claims that it was part of a ceasefire agreement with the government announced by Pres. Gustavo Petro on Dec. 31. World
Colombia, Rebels Conclude Round of 'Successful’ Talks Representatives of the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group issued a joint statement on Monday praising and concluding the first round of peace talks, which was held in Caracas, Venezuela. World
Colombia Announces Agreement with ELN Rebels On Displaced People Colombia's Pres. Gustavo Petro said on Saturday that an agreement was reached in peace talks with the left-wing National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group to allow the Indigenous Embera community to return to its lands in the west of the country. World
Colombia: Fight Between Armed Groups Leaves at Least 18 Dead Colombia's Defense Minister Iván Vélasquez told reporters on Monday that at least 18 people died on Saturday as a result of clashes between dissident factions fighting for control of drug trafficking routes. The conflict took place in Puerto Guzmán World
Colombia, Venezuela Presidents Meet As Ties Keep Improving On Tuesday, Colombian Pres. Gustavo Petro and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro held talks in Venezuela's capital Caracas in their first meeting since the two countries resumed diplomatic relations after a three-year break. World
UN: Colombia's Coca Crops Grew to 'Historic Levels' According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the potential production of coca in Colombia, and the area in the country sown with coca — the base ingredient used to produce cocaine — have grown to their highest levels in two decades. World
Colombia Truth Commission: 450K Killed in Civil War On Tues., the Colombian government-appointed truth commission released its report on the country's civil war that lasted more than a half-century. The internal conflict cost billions to American taxpayers and allegedly killed at least 450K people.... Colombia
Colombia, Venezuela Restore Full Diplomatic Relations On Sun., Colombia's new ambassador to Venezuela, former Sen. Armando Benedetti, arrived in Caracas, while Venezuela's new ambassador to Colombia, former Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia, reportedly arrived in Bogotá. World
Colombia Suspends ELN Rebel Arrest Warrants On Sat., Colombia's newly elected Pres. Gustavo Petro announced that arrest warrants and extradition orders for members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group were suspended in an effort to revive peace talks. World