Colombian police arrested nearly 3,400 people across the country as part of their “Olympic Security Marathon” week.
The 8-day security spree, called the Olympic Security Marathon for reasons police did not explain, took place across 24 Colombian cities and towns, and resulted in the recovery of 380 firearms, 200 stolen vehicles, and nearly five tons of cocaine and marijuana, according to a press report from the national police office released on Friday.
Of the 3,400 arrested, nearly 700 had warrants out for their arrest. Sixty were affiliated with drug cartel “Los Rastrojos” in southwest Colombia, and the neo-paramilitary group “Los Paisas,” operating in the north of the country.
Colombia’s police chief, General Jose Leon Riaño, released the arrest statistics at a press conference in Barranquilla, where he said petty crime had dropped by more than 50 percent during the week of police action.
Leon said police had also launched a new operation targeting leaders of the “Urabeños,” the most powerful neo-paramilitary group in the country’s north.