Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command (Colombia)

The Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command (Spanish: Comando Contra el Narcotráfico y las Amenazas Transnacionales, CONAT) is a military command of the National Army of Colombia tasked with providing assistance to counter-narcotics efforts.^[1] The command is deployed to jungle and mountainous areas where the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army.^[2]

Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command
Comando Contra el Narcotráfico y las Amenazas Transnacionales
Active	26 February 2021 - Present
Country	Colombia
Branch	Army
Role	Counter-narcotics
Size	7,000 troops
Part of	Air Assault Division
Garrison/HQ	Tolemaida Air Base
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier general Juan Carlos Correa Consuegra

Background and establishment

The establishment of a military command specialized in the fight against drug trafficking was first envisaged in August 2020 by former Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo.^[3] The establishment of the new command was proposed in order to centralize efforts and actions of existing units.

The Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command was established on 26 February 2021^[2] to replace the Special Counternarcotics Brigade and to support the larger Joint Task Force units. The Command is expected to reach the full operational capability in May 2021.^[4]

Mission

The Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command has been established in order to carry out contrast to drug trafficking, to transnational threats linked to the illegal exploration of minerals, to the trafficking of species and of people, to terrorism.^[5]

According the National Army of Colombia, the command is in charge of coordinating interdiction operations, special operations against drug trafficking, including operations against drug traffickers by organized armed groups and related illegal economic activities.^[6]

Organization

According to the National Army of Colombia, the Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command consists of six subordinate airmobile units:^[6][7][8]

• Three Special Brigades Against Drug Trafficking (Brigadas Especiales Contra el Narcotráfico): tasked with conducting unified land operations;
• Deployment Force Against Transnational Threats (Fuerza de Despliegue Contra Amenazas Transnacionales): tasked with combating extortion, kidnapping, arms, ammunition and explosives trafficking, and human trafficking;
• Brigade Against Illegal Mining (Brigada Contra la Minería Ilegal): tasked with fighting illegal mining enterprises;
• Intelligence Battalion Against Drug Trafficking and Transnational Threats (Batallón de Inteligencia Contra el Narcotráfico y Amenazas Transnacionales): tasked with information gathering activities.

On its establishment, the command is part of the Air Assault Division^[9] and it is led by Brigadier General Juan Carlos Correa Consuegra.^[10]

Controversy

The left-leaning, weekly magazine Semanario Voz denounced the establishment of the Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command as a preparatory move in order to carry out an attack to Venezuela. This move, according to Semanario Voz, is inspired by the United States of America.^[11]

The establishment of the CONAT also drew criticism from Venezuela, with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro pledging to “respond forcefully” to any violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.^[12]

According to CONAT commander, Brigadier General Juan Carlos Correa Consuegra, the command operates directly and only in Colombian territory and respects the sovereignty of all nations.^[8]

Colombia Reports' editor-in-chief, Adriaan Alsema, criticized the establishment of the Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command as a move to revive the Plan Colombia and to undermine the Colombian peace process.^[1]

See also

• Plan Colombia

References

1. Alsema, Adriaan (1 March 2021). "Duque's pirate 'Plan Colombia' copy latest blow to peace process". Colombia Reports. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
2. Acosta, Luis Jaime (26 February 2021). "Colombia lanza Comando Contra el Narcotráfico y Amenazas Trasnacionales". Reuters (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2021.
3. "El Ejército colombiano tendrá un comando especial para combatir narcotráfico". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 August 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
4. "El Ejército Nacional contará con un nuevo comando especializado en combatir el narcotráfico". infobae (in European Spanish). 24 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
5. "Duque activa comando contra el narcotráfico y amenazas transnacionales". El Comercio (in Spanish). 26 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
6. "Mindefensa anuncia creación del Comando Contra el Narcotráfico y las Amenazas Transnacionales". Comando General de las Fuerzas Militares de Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2021.
7. "Ejército activa comando contra el narcotráfico y amenazas transnacionales". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). 26 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
8. "Comando contra el Narcotráfico y Amenazas Transnacionales solo operará en territorio colombiano". Blu Radio (in Spanish). 1 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
9. "Se crea el Comando contra el Narcotráfico y Amenazas Transnacionales". Comando General de las Fuerzas Militares de Colombia (in Spanish). 26 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
10. "Colombia lanza una fuerza élite para combatir grupos rebeldes y redes de narcotráfico". France 24 (in Spanish). 27 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
11. "Los verdaderos objetivos del CONAT". Semanario Voz (in Spanish). 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
12. "Colombia launches 'elite force' to target rebels, drug gangs". www.aljazeera.com. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.