ELN has another 2,000 soldiers. Guarding drug fields and transporting raw cocoa product, kidnapping and extortion pays handsomely and has little to do with changing society or the capitalist form of government. Their commonly stated goal of helping the poor people must be taken with a pail of salt, considering the massive human rights abuses they commit against the poor or common people. After destroying and terrorizing the town, they usually leave within 12 hours. The army has been ineffective to stop these attacks, mainly due to poor mobility and tactics.
Drugs are a major business here, although it is being reduced significantly.
In the past few months major processing plants have been destroyed, a variety of drug-related property and businesses impounded by the government, and scores of officials and citizens arrested for involvement with the cartels. Both the Cali and Medellin cartels have been shut down, although they continue from their prison cells, though not effectively. One action that doesn't work and should be stopped is the defoliation - strongly pushed by Uncle Sam. The benefits simply don't outweigh the health risks to local populations. Instead, local level agricultural programs, with appropriate security, should be run to develop alternatives to poppy growing and provide local incentives.