Colombia discovered a plot to use missiles to shoot down the president's plane?

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on February 18 that 'mafia organizations' had purchased missiles from the black market and planned to use this weapon to shoot down his plane, according to AFP news agency on February 19.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro attends an event in Bogota on February 18.

"They wanted to use a missile to shoot down my plane... not one missile but two. We know who they are," AFP quoted President Gustavo Petro at a ceremony in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, on February 18 (local time).

The leader added that the missiles were in the hands of "drug traffickers" through illegal trading.

"Why did they want to eliminate me so quickly? Because they knew we were hunting Colombian mafia organizations," Mr. Petro added, mentioning among them the National Liberation Army (ELN).

President Petro's announcement comes amid a drop in his popularity in Colombia, with the leader demanding cabinet members resign if they are not performing well. Several ministers have been replaced in this round.

After Mr. Petro was elected president in 2022, peace talks between the Bogota government and armed opposition organizations collapsed several times.

The ELN this week tightened its control in the Choco region of northwestern Colombia, including restricting civilian movement, closing schools and halting public transport.

The developments here forced local authorities to call for government intervention.

The ELN and the Gulf Clan drug gang are fighting for territory in Choco, and about 3,500 people have been left homeless, according to observers.

Earlier, the conflict between ELN and its rival FARC-EMC, the remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), occurred in the Catatumbo region on the border with Venezuela. The Bogota government army sent special forces to the area in January to restore order.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/colombia-phat-hien-am-muu-dung-ten-lua-ban-ha-may-bay-cho-tong-thong-185250219074131068.htm