Oliver Lawson
@oliverlawson.bsky.social
Researching economics, small-scale conflict, and organised crime. Sometimes at the same time. My masters thesis (LSE) covered FARC dissident responses to COVID.
Check out oliverlawson.com for my Colombia drug seizures database
Check out oliverlawson.com for my Colombia drug seizures database
And those 10 people were such a mix of nationalities - from Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. Suggests a pretty broad network; will be interesting to see what comes of this.
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 PM
And those 10 people were such a mix of nationalities - from Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. Suggests a pretty broad network; will be interesting to see what comes of this.
Do you think this has any connection with the government operation in Rio? Or completely unrelated?
November 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Do you think this has any connection with the government operation in Rio? Or completely unrelated?
(3/3) Maderas del Darién allegedly gave 730 million COP to the #AUC through indirect channels.
A report from the Prosecutor’s Office indicates that Maderas raised this money by extracting it from poor Afro-Colombian communities.
A report from the Prosecutor’s Office indicates that Maderas raised this money by extracting it from poor Afro-Colombian communities.
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
(3/3) Maderas del Darién allegedly gave 730 million COP to the #AUC through indirect channels.
A report from the Prosecutor’s Office indicates that Maderas raised this money by extracting it from poor Afro-Colombian communities.
A report from the Prosecutor’s Office indicates that Maderas raised this money by extracting it from poor Afro-Colombian communities.
(2/3) A specialized court in Antioquia just sentenced four employees of the Maderas del Darién lumber company (a subsidiary of Triplex Pizano SA) to six years of house arrest.
Triplex Pizano operated in Uraba when Colombia’s largest paramilitary groups, the AUC, controlled the region.
Triplex Pizano operated in Uraba when Colombia’s largest paramilitary groups, the AUC, controlled the region.
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
(2/3) A specialized court in Antioquia just sentenced four employees of the Maderas del Darién lumber company (a subsidiary of Triplex Pizano SA) to six years of house arrest.
Triplex Pizano operated in Uraba when Colombia’s largest paramilitary groups, the AUC, controlled the region.
Triplex Pizano operated in Uraba when Colombia’s largest paramilitary groups, the AUC, controlled the region.
(5/5) Both attacks were allegedly perpetrated by #FARC dissidents. This type of attack has become sickeningly common in Colombia as guerrillas continue to escalate their use of explosives.
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
(5/5) Both attacks were allegedly perpetrated by #FARC dissidents. This type of attack has become sickeningly common in Colombia as guerrillas continue to escalate their use of explosives.
(4/5) The news follows two separate explosive attacks in #Colombia this past Monday - a car bomb detonation in Saurez, Cauca and a flurry of 11 explosives dropped by drones on the town of Robles, Valle de Cauca.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
(4/5) The news follows two separate explosive attacks in #Colombia this past Monday - a car bomb detonation in Saurez, Cauca and a flurry of 11 explosives dropped by drones on the town of Robles, Valle de Cauca.
(3/5) The mayor has put the city into a semi-lockdown, with restrictions on vehicle parking near significant locations and the prohibition of the sale and consumption of liquor.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
(3/5) The mayor has put the city into a semi-lockdown, with restrictions on vehicle parking near significant locations and the prohibition of the sale and consumption of liquor.
(2/5) Authorities believe the armaments would have been used to attack the nearby military base, home to the Batallón Simón Bolívar. However, no clear culprit has been identified.
Over the weekend, the National Army conducted controlled demolitions of 24 #explosive devices found in the city.
Over the weekend, the National Army conducted controlled demolitions of 24 #explosive devices found in the city.
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
(2/5) Authorities believe the armaments would have been used to attack the nearby military base, home to the Batallón Simón Bolívar. However, no clear culprit has been identified.
Over the weekend, the National Army conducted controlled demolitions of 24 #explosive devices found in the city.
Over the weekend, the National Army conducted controlled demolitions of 24 #explosive devices found in the city.
(5/5 Revenue from gold has helped swell the ranks of guerrillas and drug traffickers in the region, who’s numbers have reportedly increased from 400 to 2800 in recent years. This means the 600 soldiers in the region face an uphill battle to maintain control, despite reinforcements
November 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
(5/5 Revenue from gold has helped swell the ranks of guerrillas and drug traffickers in the region, who’s numbers have reportedly increased from 400 to 2800 in recent years. This means the 600 soldiers in the region face an uphill battle to maintain control, despite reinforcements
(4/5) Confrontations between FARC dissidents, the ELN, and Clan del Golfo over control of illegal mining in the area caused the displacement/confinement of at least 7000 people this year.
November 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
(4/5) Confrontations between FARC dissidents, the ELN, and Clan del Golfo over control of illegal mining in the area caused the displacement/confinement of at least 7000 people this year.
(3/5) To compete for control of the mines, the ELN and FARC dissidents have allegedly formed a uneasy, united front against the Clan del Golfo.
This attack in San Pablo is only the latest.
This attack in San Pablo is only the latest.
November 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
(3/5) To compete for control of the mines, the ELN and FARC dissidents have allegedly formed a uneasy, united front against the Clan del Golfo.
This attack in San Pablo is only the latest.
This attack in San Pablo is only the latest.
(2/5) The gold mine at San Pablo is located in the Serranía de San Lucas, a strategic corridor notorious for illegal mining.
The surrounding area reportedly produces 100 tons of #gold every year, a large portion of which is controlled by guerrillas and drug traffickers.
The surrounding area reportedly produces 100 tons of #gold every year, a large portion of which is controlled by guerrillas and drug traffickers.
November 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
(2/5) The gold mine at San Pablo is located in the Serranía de San Lucas, a strategic corridor notorious for illegal mining.
The surrounding area reportedly produces 100 tons of #gold every year, a large portion of which is controlled by guerrillas and drug traffickers.
The surrounding area reportedly produces 100 tons of #gold every year, a large portion of which is controlled by guerrillas and drug traffickers.
(5/5) But Operation Northern Shield has elicited a brutal response from the Jaime Martínez front, of which this car bombing in Suárez is only the latest example.
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
(5/5) But Operation Northern Shield has elicited a brutal response from the Jaime Martínez front, of which this car bombing in Suárez is only the latest example.
(4/5) In response, the Colombian security forces have launched Operation Northern Shield, which commits 800 troops to attack the Jaime Martínez front’s positions in the north of Cauca, including towns like Suárez.
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
(4/5) In response, the Colombian security forces have launched Operation Northern Shield, which commits 800 troops to attack the Jaime Martínez front’s positions in the north of Cauca, including towns like Suárez.
(3/5) But the catalyst for all this was a flurry of 16 explosive attacks on June 10th across Cauca, Valle de Cauca, and Cali on June 10th which have also been attributed to the Jaime Martinez Front.
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
(3/5) But the catalyst for all this was a flurry of 16 explosive attacks on June 10th across Cauca, Valle de Cauca, and Cali on June 10th which have also been attributed to the Jaime Martinez Front.
(2/5) Early investigations indicate that the Jaime Martínez FARC dissident front were the perpetrators, one of Colombia’s largest FARC dissident factions and aligned with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC).
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
(2/5) Early investigations indicate that the Jaime Martínez FARC dissident front were the perpetrators, one of Colombia’s largest FARC dissident factions and aligned with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC).
(4/4) Improvised explosives like these now seem to be the weapon of choice for attacking military targets in Colombia. Although they often fail to do any real damage, they have claimed lives and are a low-cost way for guerrillas to disrupt state activities. #colombia #farc #drones
November 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
(3/4) News of these drone attacks now feels routine in Colombia. A few days ago, a school was hit by an errant drone attack intended for a military base in El Plateado, Cauca, injuring several children.
November 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
(3/4) News of these drone attacks now feels routine in Colombia. A few days ago, a school was hit by an errant drone attack intended for a military base in El Plateado, Cauca, injuring several children.
(2/4) According to an X post from the Mayoral Office in Jamundí, no one was hurt in the attack and no one has identified the perpetrator. Two similar attacks befell the town in October and September, with the latter attributed to the Jaime Martínez’ FARC dissident front.
November 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
(2/4) According to an X post from the Mayoral Office in Jamundí, no one was hurt in the attack and no one has identified the perpetrator. Two similar attacks befell the town in October and September, with the latter attributed to the Jaime Martínez’ FARC dissident front.