The Ecuadorian Police Tuesday said they had received threats allegedly from Colombia’s FARC, due to an operation in which they seized more than eight tons of cocaine hydrochloride that apparently belonged to the rebel group.
Agencia EFE reports that the threats were received following the operation on the border with Colombia and other jurisdictions, which dismantled the alleged drug ring, according to Ecuadorian police commander Freddy Martinez.
In addition to more than eight tons of cocaine hydrochloride, police discovered a clandestine laboratory used to process drugs and an apartment in Quito where the alkaloid was stored, supposedly supplied by the FARC’s 48th front.
“I know that there have been threats from people who have been affected by the operation,” said Martinez, noting that provisions have been made to protect the police involved in the mission.
Minister of the Interior, Gustavo Jalkh, confirmed that steps have been taken to protect the police officers involved, but stressed that it is are a common practice of prevention.
“They are taking security measures, which are always expected, to protect members of the police that participated in such a high-risk operation,” Jalkh said.
An Anti-Narcotics officer, with his face covered, said to TV station Ecuavisa that the police knows that a suspected espionage arm of the FARC, known as ‘militants’, would be carrying out research work in the border zone, where part of the operation was developed.
The officer said the rebels are not threatening people, but “are a group that acts,” and he insisted that the Ecuadorian Police be ready to face any action by Colombia’s armed rebels.