A “criminal marriage” between guerrilla group FARC and drug gangs is creating tension in the southwestern Cauca and Valle del Cauca departments, warned Colombia’s armed forces Friday.
Armed forces commander, General Alejandro Navas, attributed the recent chaos and violence, including the grenade attack on Halloween against civilians, to an alliance between FARC and unnamed criminal gangs in the western Valle and Cauca departments, according to newspaper El Espectador.
“There, in the Valle and Cauca zones, there is a criminal matrimony between FARC and BaCrim [a government term for drug trafficking organizations and neo-paramilitary groups]. A matrimony that is consummated in drug trafficking,” said General Navas in relation to the Halloween attack that occurred in a park where children were trick-or-treating.
Despite the alleged FARC terrorism, the rebel guerrilla group is currently involved in peace talks with the government.