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Authorities dismantle 22 drug labs

Colombia news - army

Colombia's army together with intelligence agency DAS in a joint operation shut down 22 drug labs on the nation's Pacific coast.

After three months of investigation, 22 laboratories for the production of cocaine were stormed and shut down. A large amount of war material was seized, including rockets, mortars, grenade launchers and about 16,000 rounds of various calibers.

According to authorities the laboratories were in a large area of the Choco and Valle departments where the FARC maintains a "criminal corridor" along with gangs Los Rastrojos and Los Machos, reports Caracol radio.

All together, the laboratories allowed the gangs to produce cocaine worth over a billion pesos a month (approx. US$500,000).

Four Rastrojos members were arrested in the operation.