Ex-FARC Rebels Collaborate with Mexican Drug Cartels, Escalating Regional Security Challenges

It has become evident that ex-FARC rebels are now working for Mexican drug trafficking groups, posing a significant challenge for Mexican and regional authorities.

In Excelsior, Andres Becerril reported that the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) has been using homemade explosives fabricated by former FARC members. This information became public in 2017 through an investigation by the Centro de Investigación y Seguridad Nacional (Cisen). The report explained that the CJNG aims to maintain its dominance in drug trafficking with the collaboration of Colombian combatants. This partnership has enabled the CJNG to incorporate an explosive device known as “papa” (potato) into its arsenal. Cisen warned Mexican authorities that these explosives are highly unstable due to their chemical composition. The relationship between the CJNG and the Colombian rebels was highlighted by the government of the Mexican state of Jalisco early this week. According to regional authorities, ex-FARC members are training new recruits in paramilitary tactics for the CJNG.

Early this year in InSight Crime, ames Bargent reported in InSight Crime that the Sinaloa Cartel is taking control of the post-FARC criminal underworld. According to the article, local communities in Colombia are experiencing sabotage of the coca-crop substitution program by ex-FARC members financed by this Mexican criminal organization. This poses a significant challenge for the Colombian government, as the peace agreement relies on these initiatives to maintain a peaceful environment in local communities, particularly in regions dependent on coca leaf production for economic prosperity. Bargent also noted that this criminal group has established operational centers in six Colombian cities: Tumaco, Cali, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cartagena, and Medellín.

This evidence demonstrates that Mexican drug trafficking groups are exploiting the unintended consequences of the Colombian Peace Agreement. This development poses a serious problem for Mexico and the region, as the CJNG will likely use these paramilitary tactics to maintain their dominance in drug trafficking and expand their control to new territories. This expansion is expected to result in increased violence for the Mexican government and further displacement of people.