Colombia’s minister of defense announced plans to create a third elite military offensive to combat criminal gangs in the Pacific department of Choco.
“The National Security Council has validated the decision made some days ago in the agreement of commanders at the Ministry of Defense to create a third special intervention group to combat gangs, this time in the municipalities south of Choco,” said Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera.
The other two areas of intervention are referred to as the “Plan Troya Pacifico” and “Plan Troya Caribe.” Troya is an elite military offensive against criminal networks in various part of Colombia that was implemented in February. According to Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera, the aim of Troya is to cut off the financial resources of illegal groups operating in the country.
Rivera said that steps are being made to protect the population, end drug trafficking, and prevent illegal mining by disrupting criminal gang activity.
The Troya offensive has reduced the number of homicides in central and northern Colombia by 24%, and by 10% in the pacific region, according to the government’s report.