Inside Colombia's drug war: the ELN, FARC, and Golfo Cartel

In Colombia's Cauca Valley, the drug war is flaring once again. In 2016 the FARC, Colombia's largest armed revolutionary group, entered into peace negotiations with the government. At the time, 60 percent of Colombia's coca cultivation occurred in FARC-controlled territories. FARC's entry into the peace process left a vacuum now being filled by organized crime. Without a comprehensive state-led effort to substitute coca cultivation and provide employment for millions of young people, the drug trade remains the only path to survival for many Colombians. The Real News reports from Colombia, embedding with FARC fighters who are once again picking up the gun, members of the Golfo Cartel overseeing the production of cocaine, and the ELN, which is waging a war against narco-traffickers as part of its program of socialist revolution.
Filmed & Edited by Rodrigo Vázquez-Salessi
Producer in Colombia: Juan Pablo Morris
Music by Mariano Escudero
Produced by Bethnal Films
The Real News is an independent, viewer-supported, radical media network. Help us expand our in-depth analysis and coverage from Baltimore to Bangladesh by subscribing and becoming a member today!
Donate: therealnews.com/donate-yt
Sign up for our newsletter: therealnews.com/nl-yt
Like us on Facebook: / therealnews
Follow us on Twitter: / therealnews

[@banned7182]

This was an enlightening video, I'm shocked at the lack of views.

[@VetroSpecOps]

these are CIA tools.....

[@user-ed6rt5ls9z]

Great insight into Colombia after the peace deal. Good work guys you’ve just earned a sub!

[@davidramirez5127]

Thank you for this.

[@davidschlessinger9945]

Great reporting

[@frewatiklt9417]

Great documentary.

[@jamaljames2578]

Always watching from Georgetown Guyana south America 🇬🇾🇬🇾

[@bonson9156]

Good documentary

[@adrianbatts4498]

It's very sad and upsetting to see ppl stuck or trapped due to economic and social and political circumstances a lot of them want no parts of the drug game but have no other option

[@gustavalexander8676]

This was some amazing footage and reporting. The journalist who did this must be very dedicated and unfussed about danger. The ELN militants honestly seemed like someone who ought to run Colombia. Good morals and solidarity.

[@DG-pt9wo]

They buy guns n munitions by selling coke tho💀

[@marcosburgos8415]

@@DG-pt9wo and? lmao

[@sirHUNTERFRIEND]

have you ever spoke to a colombian whos family where killed by guerillas

[@gustavalexander8676]

@@sirHUNTERFRIEND have you ever spoken to a colombian whose family was killed by drug cartels or corrupt police? You're posing possibly the least intelligent question you possibly could. It goes without saying that any group has detractors .. Pointing out that people suffering due to these people will have different opinions. Thats like asking me "did you know water is wet?" its just embarrasingly stupid.

[@sirHUNTERFRIEND]

No entiendo porqué la pregunta es estúpida, es como supones que cada habitante de Colombia ha sido víctima de estos grupos armados cuando la realidad es que no, yo no te estoy preguntando por los grupos detractores o por las opiniones de estas familias, no es como que vivas lejos de los grupos vulnerables y puedas verlos todos los días, fuera diferente que en tu caso fueras una o familia de sus víctimas, a lo que me hace pensar probablemente NO haz hablado con estas personas, por desgracia ha sido momentos muy duro de su vida pero suelen estar abiertas a contar sus experiencias, sino fuera así no existiría el museo de la memoria@@gustavalexander8676

[@-zulutchaing-6063]

Vamos !

[@wootle]

Beautiful country blighted by the narco wars. However there will never be an end to this, never. Its impossible. Because as long as millions and millions of humans around the world want to get high this will go on and on and on. No amount of military and tech might can stop it.

[@juanospino7534]

Gracias por mostrar distintas caras y perspectivas, bendiciones

[@camerasanti4652]

I'm colombian and these people sound like they grew up in the city, very strange. Historically these are groups formed by farmers and people from rural areas, plus the woman has her nails painted, I dont know it just seems very odd. And the ELN are also involved in the drug trade, so this is very hipocritical as well.

[@anthonymcnamee6297]

Is it a safe place to visit

[@CartoClips]

⁠​⁠@@srshwa I clicked on this after reading about 2 different brutal murders of tourists by catfishing women in Medellin. Don’t go on a dating app there. I’m going to Nicaragua instead.

[@kushseti8842]

consumption of lots of drinks and spending time with the wrong woman can get you drugged and killed. If your a responsible tourist yes, it's safe I've been there many times. I'm from the Unite States.

[@HighandTrump2024]

Yes very safe

[@UlfErlingsson]

@@CartoClips Nicaragua is not safe, they, Cuba, and Venezuela are in the cocaine trafficking.

[@AndroWax-qy8ky]

​@@HighandTrump2024a little too safe to be honest

[@mariomejia9993]

la riquesa va a los que se la ganan....los que estudian, los que tratan

[@BibleSamurai]

national military needs to move in and set up bases all over the country. Especially in the jungle. Govt might be corrupt, but there cannot be prosperity without law and order

[@MariaJimenez-do2eh]

How sad humans killing for drugs.

[@janchovanec8624]

Consider not snorting them then.

[@juaneduardofleitas455]

Esos guerrilleros son reales de los del ELN ? Hicieron una actuacion como q combatian al narco nenos ŕeal que democracia venezolana 😅😅

[@nickknez8294]

I hope this war doesn’t disrupt the steady flow of high quality llallo to the states.

[@KGBSpyGeorgeCostanza]

Viva La ELN, never stop fighting for the brothers of the Marxist views

[@Truth-gus]

DESTRUYENDO PERSONAS A TRAVEZ DEL CONSUMO DE DROGAS… esto es un dinero mal ganado

[@MauiDIVXX]

Amwf Fghaa

[@enricocarlucci5997]

"Important information for you Americans⚠️ Maybe not the right video, but I don't care. How is it possible that the police and governors seemingly repeatedly violate human rights and get away with it? Quite simply because they can, and it's legal. How? Well read the law; what can they do to humans and what can they do to persons? And then find the difference in the definitions of human and person. but don't use Google; find the definitions that a judge in court would use! jes they are different And then ask yourself why one always has to identify oneself first. sorry for bad english i am still learning Best wishes from switzerland

[@rmf9567]

You are obviously sadly misinformed😂😂😂 you realize if the Colombian government didn't want this it wouldn't happen right?

[@janchovanec8624]

I'm not reading that, and the last thing I'm going to do is to take advice from a Swiss person, for there is no villain, evil person you won't help as long as they give you money.

[@enricocarlucci5997]

@@janchovanec8624 It is up to each individual whether they accept advice or not, but attributing the refusal of advice to coming from a wealthy country is narrow-minded. In short, countries and governments engage in war, rule, divide, and destabilize, whether it's Switzerland, Madagascar, China, Russia, the USA, or Chile. We, as people, must stop thinking in nationalist terms because no politician does - we have ONE global economy. Human Rights are the same awerywere.

[@Ssyphoned]

The commie part was obviously heavily produced. The ongoing situation was summarized well but the cause and prescriptive solution were absolutely a narrative.

[@FukUparacohpta73]

The guys with mask that don't show their face are paramilitaries groups and aré being supported by the right wings politicians

[@arturomeaux4158]

hoy no hay leche de toro