Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command (Colombia)

The Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command (Comando Contra el Narcotráfico y las Amenazas Transnacionales, CONAT) is a military command of the National Army of Colombia tasked with providing assistance to counter-narcotics efforts. The command is deployed to jungle and mountainous areas where the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army.

Background and establishment
The establishment of a military command specialized in the fight against drug trafficking was first envisaged in August 2020 by former Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo. The establishment of the new command was proposed in order to centralize efforts and actions of existing units.

The Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command was established on 26 February 2021 to replace the Special Counternarcotics Brigade and to support the larger Joint Task Force units. The Command is expected to reach the full operational capability in May 2021.

Mission
The Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command has been established in order to carry out contrast to drug trafficking, to transnational threats linked to the illegal exploration of minerals, to the trafficking of species and of people, to terrorism.

According the National Army of Colombia, the command is in charge of coordinating interdiction operations, special operations against drug trafficking, including operations against drug traffickers by organized armed groups and related illegal economic activities.

Organization
According to the National Army of Colombia, the Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command consists of six subordinate airmobile units: On its establishment, the command is part of the Air Assault Division and it is led by Brigadier General Juan Carlos Correa Consuegra.
 * Three Special Brigades Against Drug Trafficking (Brigadas Especiales Contra el Narcotráfico): tasked with conducting unified land operations;
 * Deployment Force Against Transnational Threats (Fuerza de Despliegue Contra Amenazas Transnacionales): tasked with combating extortion, kidnapping, arms, ammunition and explosives trafficking, and human trafficking;
 * Brigade Against Illegal Mining (Brigada Contra la Minería Ilegal): tasked with fighting illegal mining enterprises;
 * Intelligence Battalion Against Drug Trafficking and Transnational Threats (Batallón de Inteligencia Contra el Narcotráfico y Amenazas Transnacionales): tasked with information gathering activities.

Controversy
The left-leaning, weekly magazine Semanario Voz denounced the establishment of the Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command as a preparatory move in order to carry out an attack to Venezuela. This move, according to Semanario Voz, is inspired by the United States of America.

The establishment of the CONAT also drew criticism from Venezuela, with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro pledging to “respond forcefully” to any violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.

According to CONAT commander, Brigadier General Juan Carlos Correa Consuegra, the command operates directly and only in Colombian territory and respects the sovereignty of all nations.

Colombia Reports' editor-in-chief, Adriaan Alsema, criticized the establishment of the Counternarcotics and Transnational Threats Command as a move to revive the Plan Colombia and to undermine the Colombian peace process.