COLOMBIA · SECURITY
Key Facts
- The country Colombia is a South American country of about 52 million people and a close US partner in the fight against cocaine.
- What happened Soldiers, sailors and police detained 13 people in La Guajira and Sucre, including a man known as alias Isen, announced on Thursday 15 October.
- The accusation Authorities say the group sent cocaine by speedboat toward the Caribbean, Central America, the United States and Europe.
- The route Boats are said to have left the Alta Guajira coast for the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, a US territory.
- The victims Authorities say the network pressured Wayuu Indigenous communities into joining its criminal activities.
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
- Still open No court has yet ruled on the 13 suspects, who are presumed innocent, and no drug quantities have been published.
A Colombia cocaine network raid in the northern region of La Guajira ended with 13 people detained, including the man named as the leader. President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the arrests on Thursday 15 October.
The case matters to US readers because the Colombia cocaine network is accused of shipping drugs toward the United States, including through Puerto Rico. De La Espriella, a conservative who took office in August, stresses close ties with Washington.
What Happened in La Guajira
El Tiempo, a Bogotá daily, reports that the Navy, Army and Air Force joined the police and prosecutors in simultaneous raids. The arrests took place in Riohacha, Manaure, Maicao and Uribia in La Guajira, and in Palmitos in Sucre.
Semana, another national outlet, quotes the president on X: 13 members were captured, “including alias Isen, named as its leader.” He called it a transnational drug trafficking organisation and promised to keep hitting such groups “without respite.”
How the Boats Were Used
El Tiempo describes an investigation in which boats left the Alta Guajira, the dry desert peninsula at Colombia’s northern tip. They are said to have reached the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, other Caribbean islands and Central America.
The vessels named are fast speedboats, low-profile boats that sit low in the water to avoid radar, and ordinary fishing boats. Authorities say the Colombia cocaine network served final markets in the United States and Europe.
Who Is Accused
El Tiempo says one suspect is the alleged leader, four are coordinators and international contacts, and eight handled storage, transport and boat loading. The charges are conspiracy for drug trafficking, and trafficking, manufacturing or carrying narcotics.
The 13 are in the hands of the Fiscalía General, Colombia’s prosecution service, and no judge has yet ruled on them. All are presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise.
The Wayuu Communities
Authorities say the network pressured Wayuu communities to take part in its activities. The Wayuu are an Indigenous people who live on the Guajira peninsula, which Colombia shares with Venezuela.
The number of people affected and the specific cases have not been made public. El Tiempo adds that intelligence reports connect the group to the ACSN, an armed group covered in our explainer on the Santa Marta jailbreak.
What It Means for You
For US readers, the Colombia cocaine network case is a reminder that drugs reaching Puerto Rico and the Caribbean can start on Colombia’s northern coast. It fits the security push described in our report on Colombia’s offensive against armed groups.
Semana says the same presidential post cited a joint operation with the United States that seized 1,460 kilograms of cocaine from a Pacific speedboat. It shows both governments working together at sea.
What Is Not Known
No figures have been published for how much cocaine the group moved, what it was worth or how long it operated. The date of the raids and the names of the operation have not been given.
It is not yet clear when the 13 will appear before a judge or whether prosecutors will seek pre-trial detention. Authorities have also not said how the Colombia cocaine network is tied to the ACSN.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Colombia cocaine network raid?
Authorities detained 13 people, including a man known as alias Isen, whom the president names as the leader. They are presumed innocent until a court rules.
Where did the arrests take place?
El Tiempo reports raids in Riohacha, Manaure, Maicao and Uribia in La Guajira, and in Palmitos in Sucre department. La Guajira is a coastal region in northern Colombia.
Was the cocaine headed to the United States?
Authorities say the final markets were the United States and Europe. Boats are said to have reached Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Central America.
Who are the Wayuu?
The Wayuu are an Indigenous people of the Guajira peninsula, which Colombia shares with Venezuela. Authorities say the group pressured their communities to join its activities.
Sources: El Tiempo, 15 October 2026; Semana, 15 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief