{
  "id": 12234842,
  "title": "De la Espriella Activates Task Force to Combat Fuel Theft in Northern Colombia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/de-la-espriella-activates-task-force-to-combat-fuel-theft-in-northern",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T21:28:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/05/de-la-espriella-activates-task-force-to-combat-fuel-theft-in-northern-colombia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Abelardo de la Espriella and the military leadership activated the Urano Task Force to tackle hydrocarbon theft in Northern Colombia. This illicit activity has resulted in the loss of 1.2 million barrels of hydrocarbons, amounting to over 771 billion pesos (US$240.5 million) so far this year. The Urano Task Force debuted on October 5th, 2023, with the mission of addressing this crime in the departments of Cesar and Norte de Santander, two regions most impacted by the theft.\n\nThis is the first task force specifically designed to combat hydrocarbon theft, whereas prior task forces focused on drug trafficking and terrorism. The Urano Task Force combines military and police capabilities from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, working alongside the National Police. Its headquarters will be situated in Aguachica, Cesar.\n\nThe Urano Task Force will operate in strategic corridors like Tamalameque-Aguachica and the road between Tamalameque and Ocana, targeting pipeline networks where hydrocarbon theft has been identified. The task force aims to disrupt both the finances and supply networks of these illegal armed groups.\n\nDe la Espriella emphasized that merely closing clandestine valves will not solve the issue, as it does not address the individuals financing, transporting, storing, buying, and receiving the stolen fuel. His government will investigate the money trail to identify those responsible and the structures benefiting from these revenues. The Urano Task Force will maintain pressure on the criminal enterprise, recognizing that hydrocarbon theft feeds other criminal activities such as cocaine production and illegal mining, providing revenues that strengthen terrorist organizations.\n\nDuring the presentation, the president reported that 100,000 gallons of fuel have been recovered, 21 arrests have been made, and 22 vehicles and 46 illegal valves have been seized. However, he acknowledged that the results are insufficient, and the Urano Task Force must continue exerting pressure on the criminal hydrocarbon business to break its viability and prevent it from regenerating.",
  "summary": "In Colombia, illegal armed groups have stolen 1.2 million barrels of hydrocarbons so far this year, representing a value of more than 771 billion pesos (US$240.5 million). Based on this figure, President Abelardo de la Espriella activated the Urano Task Force this Monday, Oct. 5, which will be dedicated to combating this crime in the […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}