Hundreds of People Surround and Kidnap 45 Colombian Soldiers Implementing Crop Replacement Programs

Colombian army personnel implementing programs to replace illicit crops in the southwest of the country were surrounded and kidnapped by hundreds of people, mirroring a similar incident in August. The soldiers, who were working to replace coca leaf crops, were taken in the Micay Canyon, a region known for its illicit crop production and controlled by a rebel group that broke away from the FARC. The 600 individuals who surrounded the soldiers prevented them from deploying in the area, marking the second time soldiers have been taken in less than a month. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in rural Colombia, where drug gangs and rebel groups are fighting for control.

Key Takeaways:

• 45 Colombian soldiers were kidnapped after being surrounded by around 600 people in the Micay Canyon, Cauca department.
• This is the second time soldiers have been taken in less than a month, indicating a growing security concern in rural Colombia.
• The soldiers were implementing programs to replace illicit crops, including coca leaf, in an area known for its production.
• The Colombian army attributed the kidnapping to a rebel group that broke away from the FARC in 2016.
• The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, made peace with the government in 2016, but some factions continue to wage war.
• The soldiers were reportedly taken in an area where drug gangs and rebel groups are fighting for control over territory abandoned by the FARC.

Statistics:

• 600 people surrounded and kidnapped the 45 Colombian soldiers.
• This is the second time soldiers have been taken in less than a month.
• 10 members of a military unit were killed in a gunfight in August, allegedly by villagers acting under the orders of a rebel group.
• The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was a guerrilla group that made peace with the government in 2016.

Sources:

• AP.
• The Associated Press. Copyright 2025.