Explosive Drone Found Near Bogotá Airport as Colombia's Attacks Jumped to 149 in 2025
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 18
Explosive Drone Found Near Bogotá Airport as Colombia's Attacks Jumped to 149 in 2025
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 18
Summary
An explosive-packed drone was discovered this month near Bogotá’s international airport and a neighboring military base, underscoring how Colombia’s drone war has spread beyond traditional conflict zones.
149 drone attacks were recorded in 2025 by ACLED, up from 38 in 2024 and one in 2023; the defense ministry counted an even steeper rise to 333 last year.
Cheap commercial drones modified by Farc dissidents, the ELN and other armed groups have hit police, soldiers, hospitals and homes, with injuries now in the hundreds and civilians increasingly caught or directly targeted.
Recent strikes killed a mother and her two sons in Segovia in February 2026, seven soldiers in December 2025 and at least eight police officers when a helicopter was brought down in Antioquia.
Officials are rolling out a multibillion anti-drone shield and tighter import controls, but analysts say armed groups are adapting faster—drawing on tactics, equipment and training linked partly to the Ukraine war.
As armed groups acquire anti-drone tech, is Colombia’s multi-billion dollar defense shield already obsolete?
With cartel members training in Ukraine, how is a European war reshaping Latin America's narco-conflicts?
When a football match becomes a frontline, how can civilians escape a war that now attacks from the sky?
From Jungles to Cities: 264 Drone Strikes Signal a Dangerous Shift in Colombia’s Internal War (2024–2026)
Overview
The discovery of an explosive-equipped drone near Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport in May 2026 marked a turning point for urban security in Colombia. This incident revealed that illegal armed groups, empowered by rapid advances in drone technology, are now capable of launching sophisticated attacks in urban centers. The shift from simple disruptions to targeted threats against critical infrastructure reflects a broader trend: as Colombia’s internal conflict escalates, these groups increasingly use drones for lethal operations, creating new challenges for security forces and putting civilians at greater risk. This evolution demands urgent updates to security protocols and counter-drone strategies.