Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has ordered the full militarization of Santa Marta after the paramilitary group Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada launched a violent 48-hour armed strike across the northern coastal city following the death of its second-in-command during a military operation.
Armed men torched trucks and public transport buses, opened fire in public streets, and issued direct threats against local merchants to force the closure of commercial businesses throughout the capital of Magdalena department. Security forces confirmed the arrest of three suspects in Santa Marta and two others in the neighboring coastal city of Riohacha as troops move in to enforce order.
The campaign of violence began on the eve of the announcement, when armed assailants burned two public transport buses and erected blockades along the Caribbean Trunk highway, the primary road artery connecting Colombia's northern coast. The paramilitary organization announced the 48-hour strike in direct response to government operations and prior warnings from President De la Espriella, who had told the country's most wanted criminals that anyone failing to submit to justice would end up dead in a body bag.
Military deployment and street security
Following early reports of intimidation against merchants, transport workers, and local residents, De la Espriella stated on social media platform X that he had ordered an immediate reinforcement of military and police forces in Santa Marta. Hours later, the president officially announced the full militarization of the city, declaring that security forces were pursuing remaining gang members with the full force of the state.
De la Espriella stated that the government would shield and defend Santa Marta to demonstrate that the state never loses when it decides to act, adding that any criminal who refuses to surrender will be killed in accordance with the law. Santa Marta Mayor Carlos Pinedo confirmed that police units were actively patrolling urban streets to guarantee public safety, while the Colombian Army took over direct surveillance along the Caribbean Trunk highway.
The Colombian Army also confirmed in an official statement the capture of an alleged paramilitary member responsible for fabricating improvised explosive devices. Military officials stated that the suspect was preparing explosives with the explicit aim of spreading terror among the civilian population and executing terrorist attacks against regional infrastructure and security forces.
Paramilitary control in northern Colombia
Santa Marta, the capital of Magdalena department, is one of Colombia's primary tourist destinations, alongside the historic port of Cartagena de Indias and the national capital, Bogotá. Situated on the Caribbean shoreline at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range, the region is internationally known for its tropical beaches, national parks, and historic sites. However, the surrounding terrain also forms strategic transport corridors heavily targeted by illegal groups.
An armed strike is an established tactic used by paramilitary factions and criminal cartels in Colombia to assert territorial dominance. During an armed strike, armed groups order the complete shutdown of commercial activity, restrict vehicular transport along major highways and rivers, and curb civilian movement, enforcing their demands through arson, physical attacks, and threats of violence against anyone who disobeys.
The Caribbean Trunk highway, known locally as the Troncal del Caribe, is the principal transport corridor traversing northern Colombia. It connects coastal department capitals including Santa Marta in Magdalena and Riohacha in La Guajira department. Security along this highway is critical for regional freight, inter-city passenger travel, and the coastal tourism economy.
Paramilitary leadership and peace policy
The paramilitary commander killed in the military action was known by the alias Cholo and served as the second-in-command of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada. Authorities accused Cholo of managing international drug trafficking routes moving narcotics into Central America, noting that he had accumulated a criminal career spanning more than 15 years. Under the previous administration of President Gustavo Petro, who governed Colombia from 2022 to 2026, Cholo was designated as a peace facilitator, a government role established to enable dialogue with armed groups to negotiate an end to violence.
With Cholo killed in the military strike, President De la Espriella publicly issued a direct warning to Fredy Castillo Carrillo, known by the alias Pinocho. Identified by government intelligence as the top leader and main financial funder of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada, Castillo Carrillo was named by the president as the next primary target of the state's military offensive.
