Colombian security forces have dismantled a major illegal gold mining operation in Ataco, Tolima, destroying 12 excavators and 10 mining camps located near the Saldaña River. The operation, reportedly involving the National Police, Army, and Air Force, targeted mining activities allegedly connected to the Gerónimo Galeano Front, a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) operating under the leadership of Iván Mordisco. According to the authorities announcing the operation, the illegal mining network was extracting approximately 7.3 kilograms of gold every month, generating an estimated value exceeding 3.087 billion Colombian pesos. The machinery destroyed during the raid was valued at approximately 6.6 billion Colombian pesos, representing a substantial investment in the mining infrastructure. Video footage released following the operation shows heavy equipment being pushed into the river, followed by powerful explosions and fires that destroy structures and machinery used in the alleged illegal extraction activities.

Authorities described the operation as a direct effort to disrupt the financial networks supporting armed criminal groups, arguing that illegal gold mining provides revenue for organizations involved in narcotrafficking and other criminal activities. Beyond its alleged connection to insurgent financing, unauthorized mining along the Saldaña River poses environmental concerns because excavation, sediment disruption, and potential contamination can damage waterways and surrounding ecosystems. Officials presented the destruction of the mining infrastructure as a significant setback for the criminal operation, emphasizing the economic value of the gold production and equipment taken out of service. However, the decision to destroy the machinery rather than seize it for potential government use has also prompted questions from some viewers reacting to the footage. The authorities' announcement did not provide further details about arrests, prosecutions, or the long-term environmental recovery measures planned for the affected area. The operation nevertheless places renewed attention on the connection between illegal mineral extraction, armed groups, and the financial resources sustaining Colombia's ongoing security challenges.