AFP announces Colombian drug taskforce, but local police unaware
Colombian National Police have no record of an AFP agreement. This came five months after the taskforce announcement.
In May 2026, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced a new taskforce based in Bogotá. The taskforce would gather intelligence on drug shipments heading to Australia.
The taskforce was supposed to work with Colombian, US, INTERPOL and Mexican authorities. The ABC and Colombian newspaper El Tiempo investigated the taskforce after five months.
They found that Colombian police have no record of an agreement. No drug intelligence has been shared between the countries.
No seizures or arrests have been made together. The AFP says the taskforce is not yet operational.
Officials only have a letter of intent that was signed in August.
- May 2026
- Announcement month
- Bogotá
- Taskforce location
- Krissy Barrett
- AFP Commissioner
- August 2026
- Letter signed
Why it mattersThis raises important questions. Do international police agreements lead to real operations? Do they create measurable results?
AustraliaQuestions the effectiveness of $1.16m Australian spending on overseas drug interdiction if partner agencies aren't aware of the operations.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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