UMVA has learned that a critical highway on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the Troncal del Caribe, has been blocked since a government offensive against the Autodefensas Conquistadores de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN) armed group on Monday morning.
The sudden blockade has brought to a standstill a large stretch of the road between the key coastal cities of Santa Marta and Riohacha, crippling commuter buses, tourist transport, and freight vehicles. The area, a popular destination for foreign and domestic tourists, is home to white sand beaches and the famous Tayrona National Park.
Locals say Monday’s events, during which vehicles were set on fire, have created uncertainty for tourism operators and raised security concerns just days ahead of presidential elections. The blockade began at around 9AM and has affected some 43 miles (70 kilometers) of the road, according to locals.
Images shared on social media show trees being cut down to block the road, long lines of buses, cars, and freight trucks lining the highway, and an inter-municipal bus on fire. The ACSN, a criminal organization with ties to drug trafficking, controls much of the area surrounding Santa Marta.
According to information obtained by UMVA, some say the blockade was a protest by the group against a state military operation on Monday morning, which the ACSN condemned in a statement. The group claimed they were attacked in the village of Quebrada del Sol, and their troops are trying to protect their lives.
However, residents of the Guachaca district claim they blocked the roads to condemn the escalation in violence. A community leader from the area described the impact of the blockade on residents, saying, “It’s having a big effect on the communities because the stores are closed, the roads are closed, and … it also causes a lot of anxiety for tourists who are afraid to come here, which hurts all of us.”
The community leader also noted that local tourism operators are worried that rising tensions will deter visitors. “Nobody likes to be in the middle of a warzone, let alone visit one on vacation,” he said. The uncertainty has raised concerns about whether the Tayrona National Park will open tomorrow.
The army said the “operation was aimed at disrupting the structures of the organized armed group Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra and curbing its criminal activities in the province.” However, the community leader criticized the government, questioning why they chose to launch the offensive against the ACSN now.
The blockade remains in effect, with the Santa Marta Mayor’s Office calling for the government to help establish a humanitarian corridor to ensure safe passage on the road. The situation has sparked concerns about the impact on the presidential elections and the future of the region.
