Colombia and Ecuador investigate border incident following fatal explosions

Wednesday 18 March 2026 - 16:00

Colombian and Ecuadorian authorities are jointly investigating a border incident after explosions at cocaine laboratories near the frontier killed at least 14 people in January, according to Colombia’s Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez. The inquiry comes amid accusations from Colombian President Gustavo Petro that Ecuadorian actions caused more than two dozen deaths.

Minister Sanchez said authorities are reviewing whether Ecuador may have violated Colombian sovereignty, noting that a bomb discovered in Colombia could have originated from Ecuador’s armed forces. “The information we have at this moment is that those people died after being burned alive. The site where they died was a cocaine laboratory, and the causes and those responsible are under investigation,” Sanchez stated.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa denied the allegations, emphasizing that security operations targeted drug traffickers within Ecuador’s own territory. Earlier this month, Ecuador launched a two-week security operation across four provinces on or near the Pacific coast to counter gang violence. The Colombian border region of Narino is a frequent hub for drug trafficking to the United States.

The investigation highlights ongoing tensions in border regions where criminal networks operate, underscoring the challenges in addressing cross-border narcotics and maintaining sovereignty.