Colombia's illegal armed groups grew in 2023 -secret security report

Starting next week, submitting Obituaries, In Memoriams or Cards of Thanks for our publications and online becomes easier! Simply visitSTORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOSBOGOTA - Colombia's four main illegal armed groups grew during 2023 as they consolidated territorial control financed by drug trafficking and illicit gold extraction, according to a secret security report seen by Reuters.

The ELN is the largest of the groups and increased its headcount in 2023 by 307 members, taking the total to 6,158. That number includes 3,305 combatants and 2,853 people who belong to support networks, according to the report, which was labeled"top secret." Of the two dissident groups of the now demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , the EMC is the largest, with 3,859 members - of which 2,428 are combatants.The ELN, the EMC and the Segunda Marquetalia all have members in neighboring Venezuela, the report said.

"There are large and important funds that illegal armed organizations derive from activities like drug trafficking and illegal mining," Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez said.

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