The operation resulted in the death of Haminton Mosquera, a top-ten priority target accused of directing attacks against security personnel, including the fatal shooting of an officer in Tarazá. The targeted Gulf Clan maintains vast illicit operations across Colombia, including cocaine shipments to Europe and the United States alongside illegal mining and human smuggling. While local communities afflicted by extortion support the military crackdown, President de la Espriella continues to generate controversy for theatrical public messaging, such as inscribing his campaign slogan onto ordnance.
Key points
Colombia's administration is prioritizing military air strikes to dismantle the leadershi…: Colombia's administration is prioritizing military air strikes to dismantle the leadership hierarchy of dominant armed groups.
The state offensive will persist across gang-held regions until government authorities su…: The state offensive will persist across gang-held regions until government authorities successfully regain total territorial control.
Aggressive public posturing by the president continues to polarize observers despite loca…: Aggressive public posturing by the president continues to polarize observers despite local backing for anti-extortion crackdowns.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
A senior leader of Colombia's largest criminal gang, the Gulf Clan, is among eight people killed in an air strike carried out by the country's armed forces, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella.
De la Espriella said he had personally authorised the bombing targeting the Gulf Clan in the province of Antioquia, in north-west Colombia.
He added that Haminton Mosquera, whom he described as a senior member of the crime gang and one of 10 "priority targets" for Colombia's security forces, had been "brought down".
De la Espriella was elected in June after campaigning on a promise to crack down on Colombia's powerful criminal gangs, including by launching air strikes.
In a post on X, external, he said that Mosquera was suspected of having ordered attacks against the security forces, including the murder of a police officer in the municipality of Tarazá last year.
The Gulf Clan has been engaging in criminal activities for decades, mainly trafficking cocaine from Colombia to destinations in the US and Europe but also illegal mining and people smuggling.
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