Colombian authorities have found “the most important haul of war material seized from guerrillas in a decade” in the south west of the country.
Colonel Ricardo Alarcon, commander in the department of Cauca, said the alleged FARC cache included, “Missile type grenades, each charged with 40 kilos of explosive R-1, with a huge destructive impact that can cause damage over a 100-meter radius.”
The police official claimed guerrillas planned to use the missiles against fortified structures of the army, police or banks. “Their size and thickness allow the terrorists to stockpile a large amount of explosives and shrapnel,” said Alarcon.
Though the recent haul of alleged FARC weapons represents an important success for the armed forces, the police commander said the cache was also a cause for “concern.” “It is an important finding that yields some concern […] They are homemade grenades, but they have been modernized.”
The Cauca department has been one of the areas most affected by the FARC’s fight against the state and has seen dozens of rebel attacks against security forces, infrastructure and towns this year alone.