In 2025, Colombia is once again caught in a storm of violence, fear, and displacement—a resurgence not unfamiliar to those who lived through the country’s darkest decades. Although once hailed as a success story in combating narcotics and guerrilla violence, Colombia now finds itself in a new chapter of an old war.
Armed groups are expanding, cocaine production is hitting record highs, and thousands of civilians are being displaced. This is not just a relapse—it’s a revelation that the drug war never really ended.
🧨 A Brief History of Colombia’s Narco-Conflict
Colombia’s violent history with narcotrafficking dates back to the 1970s and 80s, when Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel rose to global infamy. What followed was a bloody, decades-long battle involving:
Drug cartels (Medellín, Cali, Norte del Valle)
Left-wing guerrillas (FARC, ELN) financing operations with cocaine
Right-wing paramilitary groups
U.S.-backed Plan Colombia (2000s) to eradicate drug crops and insurgents
In 2016, the historic peace deal with FARC brought hope of lasting peace. But fast forward to 2025, and that hope is fading fast.
🔥 Why Is the Drug War Back in 2025?
There are multiple reasons behind the current surge in violence and instability:
1. Fragmentation of Armed Groups
While FARC demobilized in 2016, many former fighters joined dissident factions or rival armed groups like Clan del Golfo, ELN, and new narco-paramilitary outfits. These groups are competing violently for territory and control of drug routes.
2. Boom in Cocaine Production
Despite billions spent on eradication, Colombia is producing record levels of coca in 2025. Remote rural areas are lawless, and farmers often have no viable alternative crops.
3. Weak Implementation of the Peace Accord
The 2016 peace agreement promised:
Rural development
Crop substitution
Land reform
Reintegration of ex-combatants
But these promises remain largely unfulfilled, fueling frustration, poverty, and return to violence.
4. State Absence in Rural Regions
Many conflict-prone areas lack basic infrastructure, police presence, or economic opportunity—creating a power vacuum filled by armed groups.
👥 Who Are the Main Players in 2025?
Clan del Golfo (Gulf Clan): Now the largest and most dangerous drug trafficking group in Colombia.
ELN (National Liberation Army): Expanded operations, particularly in Venezuela border areas.
FARC Dissidents: Splinter groups controlling large rural zones.
Criminal bands (“Bacrim”): Hybrid narco-paramilitary units with growing influence.
U.S. DEA and Military Advisors: Renewed presence under bilateral cooperation.
🧍 The Human Cost: Displacement and Civilian Fear
According to human rights organizations, over 120,000 people were forcibly displaced in 2024 alone—and that number is rising in 2025. Many are Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities caught in the crossfire.
“We left our homes not because of war, but because of silence—because no one came to protect us,” says María, a displaced mother from Chocó.
Civilians are often victims of:
Landmines and ambushes
Forced recruitment of youth
Extortion and threats
Crop destruction by aerial fumigation
🧪 Is the U.S.-Backed Drug Strategy Working?
In short: no.
The long-standing “war on drugs” strategy—focused on eradication, militarization, and interdiction—has failed to dismantle the core of the problem: poverty, inequality, and lack of state presence.
Critics argue Colombia needs:
Rural development and education
Legal, scalable crop alternatives
Political reform and peace-building
International cooperation on demand-side reduction, not just supply
🌎 Regional Impact: The Spillover Effect
Colombia’s renewed conflict is no longer just national—it’s regional:
Guerrilla and drug groups operate across Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazil.
Refugees are crossing borders in growing numbers.
Cocaine supply to Europe and North America is rising, making Colombia central to global narcotics trade once again.
🧭 What’s Next for Colombia?
With presidential elections behind them and President Gustavo Petro’s administration under pressure, Colombia stands at a crossroads:
Double down on peace negotiations with ELN and dissidents
Invest in long-term rural transformation, not just military operations
Strengthen institutions, law enforcement, and judiciary independence
Tackle corruption, which enables armed group financing
Advocate for a global shift in drug policy—from punitive to public health-driven
Colombia’s 2025 narco-war is a stark reminder that violence doesn't end when treaties are signed. Real peace requires political will, public trust, and socioeconomic transformation. Until the root causes of Colombia’s drug conflict are addressed, the cycle of violence will continue—leaving generations of Colombians to pay the price.
I’m Winejagati, a experienced writer and researcher with years of experience in marketing, stock market trading, and business analysis. Well-versed in technology and global affairs, I’m passionate about delivering clear, insightful content that helps readers stay informed and ahead of the curve.
