Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella ordered the militarization of the coastal city Santa Marta on Tuesday (September 22), amid a wave of violence that erupted following operations against a drug cartel that resulted in the death of a ringleader, known as 'Cholo', on Monday (September 21).

The president announced in a message posted on social media platform X that authorities would reinforce the military and police presence in Santa Marta “in light of the threats and acts of intimidation by the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ASCN) against merchants, transporters, and citizens.”

De la Espriella also reported the capture of three alleged members of the group in Santa Marta and two in Riohacha.

Authorities reported that other twelve members of the group had also been killed.

The ACSN is an organized narco-paramilitary group whose presence extends from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and its surroundings areas.

On Tuesday, trucks and buses were set on fire, and there were shootings and threats against business owners, according to local media reports.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UNKNOWN LOCATION (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 22, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA VIA X – No Resales / No Archive / Must on-screen courtesy Abelardo De La Espriella via X) (CAPTIONS ADDED AT SOURCE)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA, ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA, SAYING:

"As a result of the decisive action taken by our law enforcement agencies, the bandits from the 'Conquistadores de la Sierra' self-defense groups have been neutralized. These criminals intend to set fire to much of the Caribbean region, starting with Santa Marta, where they have threatened merchants, residents, and transport workers and are committing all manner of atrocities."

SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA (SEPTEMBER 21, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA VIA X – No Resales / No Archive / Must on-screen courtesy Abelardo De La Espriella via X) (CAPTIONS ADDED AT SOURCE)

2. VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TRANSPORTING DETAINEES TO A MILITARY BASE AFTER THEIR ARREST (FACES BLURRED AT SOURCE)

UNKNOWN LOCATION (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 22, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA VIA X – No Resales / No Archive / Must on-screen courtesy Abelardo De La Espriella via X) (CAPTIONS ADDED AT SOURCE)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA, ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA, SAYING:

"As President of the Republic, I have ordered that Santa Marta be militarized. At this moment, we have three criminals in custody in Santa Marta and two in Riohacha, and we are going after the rest with the full force of the State. Anyone here who refuses to submit will be eliminated, and I will not allow them to continue terrorizing our people, who simply want to work."

SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA (SEPTEMBER 21, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA VIA X – No Resales / No Archive / Must on-screen courtesy Abelardo De La Espriella via X) (CAPTIONS ADDED AT SOURCE)

4. BODY BAGS OF ALLEGED CRIMINALS PLACED ON THE FLOOR OF MILITARY BASE

5. VARIOUS OF DE LA ESPRIELLA WALKING NEAR BODY BAGS IN AREA WHERE CRIMINAL KNOWN AS ALIAS 'CHOLO' WAS KILLED, WHOSE DEATH SPARKED VIOLENCE IN THE CITY

UNKNOWN LOCATION (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 22, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA VIA X – No Resales / No Archive / Must on-screen courtesy Abelardo De La Espriella via X) (CAPTIONS ADDED AT SOURCE)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA, ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA, SAYING:

"We are going to fortify Santa Marta and defend it to show the bandits that when the State is determined, it never loses. Any bandit who refuses to surrender will be neutralized, as the law requires. We stand firm for our country."

SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA (SEPTEMBER 21, 2026) (ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA VIA X – No Resales / No Archive / Must on-screen courtesy Abelardo De La Espriella via X) (CAPTIONS ADDED AT SOURCE)

7. VARIOUS OF WEAPONS SEIZED DURING OPERATION THAT KILLED ALIAS 'CHOLO'