Colombian Army Hunts Drug Gangs on Porous Colombia-Venezuela Border Amid Large Cocaine Seizures
On 24 December 2025, a mission was undertaken by the Colombian Army Mechanised Cavalry Regiment in Cucuta, Colombia, near the Colombia-Venezuela border. The objective was to follow up on intelligence about a shipment of weapons and possibly drugs moving between the two countries. This particular operation found no contraband on this occasion.
Throughout 2025, the unit has seized six tonnes of cocaine. Video and imagery from operations reveal jungle cocaine labs equipped with large drums of ingredients, microwaves, and bricks of cocaine. These labs are often abandoned before army arrival, with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of cocaine left behind.
The border between Colombia and Venezuela is described as open and porous, with at least 50 illegal crossing points in the Cavalry Group 5 sector alone, leading to a heavy flow of people and goods that complicates policing efforts. Lt. Col. Juan Camilo Mazo, commander of Cavalry Group 5, emphasized the vital role of intelligence in operations and noted that units often face dangerous shootouts. Forces fight narco gangs and terror groups moving along this border region.
This ongoing operation is framed within a US-led campaign against Latin American drug gangs. Venezuela is identified as a major drug shipping point and is seen as potentially unable to control its border, which has broader implications for its leadership.
