(UPI) — Nearly six tons of marijuana and cocaine allegedly owned by major rebel and drug trafficking groups has been seized in raids by Colombian police.
Authorities said the operations, conducted in the southwestern departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, represented major blows to the FARC rebel group and drug cartels, Colombia Reports said Tuesday.
In the Padilla community of northern Cauca, police said they confiscated two tons of marijuana they believed belonged to the Sixth Front of FARC, which operates in the area. Three tons of marijuana more was found in the town of Buga in Valle del Cauca, said Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon.
Some 1,490 pounds of cocaine were seized in the port city of Buenaventura, Pinzon said. Authorities said the shipment was destined for Panama from where it would be shipped to Mexico.
Police valued the shipment at $20 million and alleged it belonged to the FARC and the trafficking organization Los Rastrojos.
Separately in Buenaventura, 443 pounds of cocaine was seized that police alleged was owned by the neo-military group Los Urabenos.
FARC has denied it is involved in the drug trade.
