Authorities ordered a crackdown in the southern department of Nariño to combat the wave of violence sweeping over the region.
The government announced the relocation of 2,000 extra soldiers to the region to restore public order.
Citizens of Nariño are victims of ongoing violence, in part due to a fierce dispute between illegal armed groups over control of territory.
The soldiers assigned to the region come from urban control and specialized intelligence units.
The police will assign an administrative General to oversee the department’s police force. His sole objective will be to tackle the problems of criminal gangs, as well as guerrillas, drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping.
Police director of Citizen Secuirty, Orlando Páez
Barón, announced a reward of up to 50 million pesos for information leading to the capture of leaders of criminal groups in the zone.
Páez also announced that posters with photos of the most wanted criminals in the area will be posted throughout Nariño.