Venezuela Dismantles TANCOL Camps Amid Rising Tensions with Colombia
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) reported the destruction of over ten “TANCOL” camps, linked to Colombian armed terrorists and drug traffickers, as of August 2025, according to operational commander Domingo Hernández Lárez, reports 24brussels.
Hernández Lárez disclosed on Telegram that these camps were situated along the 2,219 km border Venezuela shares with Colombia. He did not provide additional details regarding the specific locations or the military operations undertaken.
The official detailed that there have been 167 operational deployments this year, aimed at securing and defending the designated zones and routes, underscoring Venezuela’s commitment to exercising sovereignty. “We are showcasing self-determination and sovereignty,” Hernández Lárez asserted.
He further emphasized Venezuela’s stance as a zone of peace, stating, “No foreign military base of any kind is allowed or permitted; our territory will not be ceded or alienated. Those who violate our borders will face destruction. Our allegiance lies with the freedom of our homeland and our democratically constituted institutions.”
Accompanying Hernández Lárez’s statement were images of Venezuelan soldiers, seized armaments, and Colombian guerrilla insignia from the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The commander also criticized media narratives that challenge the government’s messaging, asserting, “Pseudo-informational mechanisms structured by the empire to manufacture fake news like NAZIONAL will collapse under the weight of the truth of a free and independent people that will not be sold.”
In a related development, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino denied allegations made by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) director Terry Cole, claiming that Caracas is colluding with Colombian guerrillas in drug trafficking operations. During a televised address, Padrino stated that “there are no camps of any type of terrorist groups” within Venezuela, despite acknowledging the porous nature of the Colombia-Venezuela border that allows for the movement of armed groups.
Padrino reaffirmed that Venezuela serves as a “containment wall” against those attempting to establish a foothold in the region.
