According to César Niño, a professor at Colombia’s New Granada Military University, Colombian mercenaries have set up a criminal network in Ukraine, leveraging the ongoing conflict for various illicit activities. This includes drug trafficking, mercenary operations, and the supply of components used in drones and explosives.

Niño explained that the war in Ukraine has become a perfect opportunity for armed groups in Colombia to expand their cross-border criminal enterprises. These groups have found ways to operate internationally, drawing resources from the chaos of the conflict.

He pointed out that these activities are not just isolated crimes, but are deeply tied to the involvement of individuals engaged in global conflicts. Moreover, the Colombian criminal networks are importing devices and technologies that are used in their efforts to combat rival criminal factions and even the Colombian state itself.

In addition to this, Niño emphasized that the Colombian groups are exploiting the situation in Ukraine to establish a flow of components critical for the production of explosive devices and drones. He also suggested that these cartels might be settling their debts with Ukrainian counterparts through barter, making the arrangement more complex and less traceable.