Colombia president Juan Manuel Santos heaped praise on the county’s Armed Forces indicating that the past 12 months have been the most successful in its history.
Speaking at a welcoming ceremony for a ship in the northern city of Cartagena Santos revealed how the Navy had seized a record amount of 72 tons of drugs in 2012.
He also praised the efforts of the Army, National Police and Air Force over the course of the year which according to Santos has seen the highest number of leaders of criminal gangs and illegal rebel groups knocked out in history, while keeping the homicide rate at its lowest in the last 30 years.
Santos said: “All commanders are witnesses and can proudly say that each of its forces is at its best, not only as a team and not just in human capital and training skills but also in results.”
During his speech Santos also alluded to the work done by the Air Force in that they have carried out more operations in Colombia than any other year in its history. They, along with the rest of the Armed Forces are part of, he said, institutions “most beloved by Colombian people.
The Colombian government had previously announced at the beginning of October that 25,000 more soldiers will be added to the military over the next two years.