Property destruction: Around 15 March 2025 (as reported), in the rural area of Ipiales municipality (Narino), military forces destroyed a cocaine laboratory belonging to suspected members of the Frontier Command in the El Cocuy vereda. More than 1,300 kg of cocaine, 1,200 kg of coca base paste, 3,400 gallons of liquid precursors, and 1,050 kg of solid precursors were found and seized at the site.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary A large-scale cocaine manufacturing facility was discovered and destroyed through military operations around March 15, 2025, in the Ipiales area of Nariño Department, Colombia. With 1,300kg of cocaine and large quantities of precursor chemicals seized, temporary disruptions to the illicit drug supply chain are expected. The continued security instability in the region is likely to persist, potentially affecting normal economic activities.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Agriculture sector: Nariño Department is a major agricultural region in Colombia, and regional security instability could indirectly affect the production and transportation of agricultural products such as coffee and cacao
• Chemical supply: The large quantities of liquid and solid precursor chemicals seized were likely procured through illicit distribution networks, necessitating enhanced monitoring of legitimate chemical raw material distributors
• Cross-border logistics: Ipiales is located near the Colombia-Ecuador border, with potential delays in cross-border logistics and trade activities due to enhanced security screening
• Regional transportation networks: Concerns over disruptions to general logistics activities due to restricted access to roads and transportation infrastructure around the military operation area

3) Watch points

• Whether additional military operations will occur in Nariño Department and the Colombia-Ecuador border region, and trends in security situation changes
• Monitoring reports of transportation delays or production disruptions from agricultural exporters in the region