BOGOTA, May 7 (UPI) -- Colombia has approved the use of military force, including airstrikes, against armed criminal gangs, the country's defense minister announced.
Luis Carlos Villegas said Thursday Colombia will use the full force of the state to stop three prominent gangs -- the Clan Usaga, Los Pelusos and Los Puntilleros -- involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining.
"This will allow the application of the entire force of the state, without exception, against organized armed groups, against powerful mafias," Villegas said.
The three gangs are connected to cocaine trafficking in Central America and North America, and Mexican cartels, BBC reported.
"Those three organizations from today will be pursued autonomously or in coordination by the armed forces and the police," Villegas said, according to TeleSUR.
Until now, such military force had only been implemented against guerrilla groups, with which the country has been in conflict for over 50 years.
The announcement comes as peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) nears an end and another guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN) have reportedly agreed to commence new talks.
Any air raids against FARC are suspended for the time being as peace talks continue.
