Colombia’s ‘El Tigre’ takes fight to cartels as Trump alliance takes shape

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has intensified military and police action against cartels and armed groups, fulfilling his law-and-order campaign pledge. His approach marks a sharp turn from his predecessor’s negotiations with armed organisations and has brought Colombia closer to US President Donald Trump’s anti-cartel coalition.

In a raid across Barranquilla, 587 police officers and soldiers searched 50 locations, leading to 72 arrests and the capture of an alleged gang leader. De la Espriella says his government has made 32,503 arrests, taken 33 ringleaders out of action and destroyed or disabled 679 drug-production sites; it has also signed more than 100 extradition orders. The intensified offensive has coincided with the deadliest month of clashes between security forces and armed groups since monitoring began in 2018.