A joint operation between the Prosecutor’s Office, the National Police and the National Council to Fight Deforestation made it possible to dismantle a structure reported to move large volumes of illegal wood from the Colombian Amazon to several cities in the country.
This is the organization known as ‘Puerto Hong Kong’, accused of operating in Nariño, Putumayo and Amazonas, and of supporting for years a criminal chain dedicated to the extraction, transportation and commercialization of protected forest species.
The investigations, carried out by the Directorate against Environmental Crimes, made it possible to establish that the network moved wood to destinations such as Bogotá, Cali, Pasto and Boyacá, where it was distributed through marketers who knew the illicit origin of the material.
Also read: Lokillo Flórez from ‘Perros Criollos’ reveals that he was the target of threats after his controversial battle at the FMS 2025
This criminal mechanism generated million-dollar income and had both land and river logistics to evade state controls.
During the operation, 17 people were captured, including three Corpoamazonía officials: an executive secretary and two contractors.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, these women would have provided irregular permits, omitted controls and made decisions contrary to environmental regulations in order to favor the departure of shipments.
The authorities confirmed that the organization affected protected areas in the Amacayacu Park, forest areas of Tarapacá, areas of the Amazon and border sectors with Peru and Brazil. Impacts were even detected in the Yaguas National Park (Peru), evidencing the international dimension of criminal activity.
The Minister in charge of the Environment highlighted that this intervention is part of Conaldef’s integrated operations, aimed at stopping deforestation, illegal mining and species trafficking. Both the Prosecutor’s Office and environmental organizations assured that they will continue with patrols and investigations in critical points of the South American jungle.
More news from Colombia