World
Colombia Eyes Expanded Police Cooperation with India, Including Drone Shield Procurement
By Ramita Mishra, Dhirendra Kumar
Colombia is pursuing deeper law‑enforcement cooperation with India to combat drug trafficking and is exploring the purchase of drone‑shield technology from state‑run Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). Colombian Ambassador to India, Victor Hugo Echeverri Jaramillo, said the country is considering creating a police‑attaché position at its New Delhi embassy. He noted that drug networks are transnational and that international cooperation is essential. Jaramillo added that Colombian police can share information quickly with local authorities when needed to tackle international crime. He also mentioned that India is a transit point for drugs destined for Australia and New Zealand.
A senior Indian official, who wished to remain anonymous, said Indian agencies have seized cocaine originating from Colombia but have not found evidence that consignments were routed through India to Australia or New Zealand. Colombia’s history of violent drug‑related conflict, from Pablo Escobar to the FARC, is contrasted with India’s declaration that all districts are free of Left‑Wing Extremism violence, according to a government statement dated 1 August.
Jaramillo explained that the cooperation would focus on intelligence and technology, particularly artificial intelligence, to locate drug‑producing groups hidden in Colombia’s vast territory. He also said the Colombian government is in talks with BEL to procure drone‑shield technology. A Colombian delegation visited BEL’s Ghaziabad Unit and Central Research Laboratory in March 2026. Jaramillo said the price of an anti‑drone shield in India is competitive compared with European suppliers.
Queries sent to the spokespersons of Colombia’s National Police, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and BEL on 29 September, and further queries on 6 October to the narcotics control bureau director‑general, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Interpol, remained unanswered by press time. Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense responded that it had assigned the query to the National Police and reaffirmed its commitment to improving citizen experience within the Defense Sector.
Limited police training cooperation already exists. Twenty‑five Colombian police officers attended an Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation course on artificial intelligence for human security at Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat from 26 March to 8 April 2025. No additional training programmes or visits have been scheduled, and Rashtriya Raksha University has not run a similar programme for officers from other Latin American countries.
Indian security experts view the partnership as complementary. Dependra Pathak, retired special commissioner of Delhi Police, said India’s experience with narcotics and insurgency, along with BEL’s drone capabilities, could complement Colombia’s expertise in combating drug cartels. Aprajita Kashyap, associate professor at JNU, said hosting foreign police forces highlights India’s technological advancement in defense and surveillance and provides Indian agencies insight into Colombia’s handling of cross‑border crime.
Former Indian ambassador to Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba Deepak Bhojwani noted that Colombia has shown interest in Indian defense equipment for years, including howitzers and Arjun tanks. He said the renewed security engagement could strengthen defense cooperation, especially in anti‑drone technology.