Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC increased weapons purchases in Ecuador during the unilateral ceasefire called by the guerrillas in November, said an Ecuadorean general on Tuesday.
“Since the beginning of the peace process…we have captured a great amount of ammunition, arms and therefore we know they [FARC] took advantage of this situation to strengthen their position in preparation of what might happen in the future,” Ecuadorean general Fernando Proaño Daza told the Spanish news agency EFE.
The general is in charge of approximately 12,000 Ecuadorean soldiers who are posted along the Colombian border.
According to local media, Ecuadorean authorities have recently seized more than 1,200 bars of explosives bound for armed groups that operate along border zones.
FARC’s unilateral ceasefire is set to expire on January 20.
