COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE OPERATION AGAINST DANIEL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 005083 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR INL AND WHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PTER MOPS CO SUBJECT: COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE OPERATION AGAINST DANIEL ALDANA MOBILE COLUMN Ref: Bogota 3691 ¶1. (SBU) The 1st Battalion of the Plan Colombia supported Counter Drug Brigade (CD BDE) conducted operations in the department of Narino from January to May. On the last day of their deployment, May 5, the unit conducted an operation against the Colombian Revolutionary Front (FARC) Daniel Aldana Mobile Column. The Daniel Aldana Column is involved in drug trafficking and arms smuggling activities in southwestern Narino and across the border with Ecuador. ¶2. (SBU) Although alias "Rambo", the Daniel Aldana Column commander was not there, the CD BDE unit captured Cecilia Munoz Jaramillo alias "Karen", Rambo's sentimental companion. Rambo's laptop computer was also captured. ¶3. (SBU) In addition, the unit hit a second objective, a cocaine HCL lab with peak production capability of four metric tons of cocaine a month. The unit destroyed over 15,000 gallons of liquid precursors, 3.5 tons of solid precursors, 18 microwave ovens and four "marcianos" (used to recycle precursor chemicals.) ¶4. (SBU) Comment: The aerial spray eradication of more than 55,000 hectares of coca, the capture of Karen, the destruction of numerous labs, and the capture of almost two tons of cocaine HCL (reftel),have undoubtedly dealt a blow to the narco-terrorist groups in southwestern Narino. If the amount of hectares planted and eradicated, quantity of labs destroyed, and amount of cocaine HCL captured are any indication, Narino has become the Putumayo of the 2000's. End comment. Wood