Coltan: the 'blue gold' that is becoming the fuel of war for the dissidents
A military investigation has revealed how FARC dissidents have established a sophisticated network for trafficking coltan from Venezuela to Colombia, turning this desired commodity into a means to strengthen their criminal coffers.
TL;DR
- FARC dissident groups have established a sophisticated network to traffic coltan from Venezuela to Colombia.
- Coltan, essential for manufacturing cell phones and technological devices, is extracted in Venezuela's Amazonas state.
- The mineral is transported to Colombia via clandestine land and river routes.
- Profits from coltan trafficking are estimated to be in the millions, used to purchase weapons and war materials.
- This illegal activity joins other criminal economies like drug trafficking and illegal gold mining in financing armed conflict.
- The ELN is also involved in coltan trafficking, leading to conflicts with FARC dissidents over control of the trade.