Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime 9d ago

Colombia’s election is heavily focused on security policies and responses to organized crime. The two leading candidates, right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda have very different ideas about how to tackle the problem. But both sides are suggesting ideas that have been tried before. Here is what we recommend organized crime policy in Colombia should focus on: 1. De-narcotizing security policies Although cocaine remains Colombia's largest and most significant illegal market, it represents just one element in a broader criminal ecosystem where other illegal markets - illegal mining, extortion, arms trafficking, smuggling - play an equally structural role. Policies must be designed to understand and respond to the ecosystem as a whole, not just one of its components. 2. Thinking in criminal ecosystems, not armed conflict logic The 2016 Peace Agreement with the FARC transformed Colombia's security landscape. Instead of armed conflict, we now see multiple fragmented actors competing and cooperating around illegal markets. State strategies must adapt to this new reality - prioritizing financial intelligence, network dismantlement and interinstitutional cooperation over traditional military responses designed to confront insurgent actors. 3. Following the money Understanding how the financial dimension of organized crime is essential to understand how illegal markets connect with each other, how money is laundered and how it integrates into the formal economy. 4. Addressing corruption as part of the organized crime response In Colombia, individuals operating from within the government have facilitated drug trafficking and illegal mining, providing logistical support and protection to criminal structures. While recent efforts have led to significant restructuring of the security forces, entrenched corruption remains one of the most formidable barriers to effectively tackling organized crime.