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Violence escalates in Santa Marta, Colombia, after military operation

Bogota, Sep 22 (Prensa Latina) Santa Marta, the capital of the northern department of Magdalena, is experiencing an escalation of violence due to alleged reprisals by the group *Autodefensas Conquistadores de la Sierra Nevada* (ACSN) in response to Army operations against them.

   According to local media reports, members of this armed group set fire to two buses after forcing passengers and drivers to get off the vehicles; meanwhile, road blockades have been reported at locations such as Calabazo and Marquetalia, with disruptions also affecting the 11 de Noviembre sector.

  It was also reported that traffic was restricted on the *Troncal del Caribe* (Caribbean Highway)—the region’s most important road corridor, which provides access to the department of La Guajira.

  In light of announcements that the criminal group planned to enforce an “armed strike” in the area—entailing the forced restriction of movement, commerce, transport, and daily activities—the Magdalena Governor’s Office and the National Police established an extraordinary Unified Command Post (PMU).

  The deterioration of public order followed an operation in which the individual known as “Cholo”—the ACSN’s second-in-command and financier—was reportedly killed.

  According to statements, the military action resulted in the deaths of seven members of the group and the capture of three others, alongside the preliminary seizure of weapons and a large quantity of military hardware.

  The governor announced that he would lead a Security Council meeting in Santa Marta to “assess the situation in the area and directly coordinate the necessary actions to protect the population.”

  In a message posted on his X account, he stated that he would not allow “any criminal group to subjugate citizens through threats and terror.” Due to the escalation of violence, police and National Army troops are maintaining ground deployments in the area.

jdt/dfm/ifs

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