Colombian Army Major Mario Alberto Molano Mejía, born in the municipality of Dolores, Tolima department, is a seasoned officer with more than 19 years of experience in different areas of the military, where he has held operational positions that led him to command entire companies in complex areas of the country such as the plains of Arauca, the mountains of southern Bolívar, the jungles of Caquetá, and the department of Cauca.
In addition, he has complemented his military career in the doctrinal framework, making available the knowledge acquired in the area of operations to strengthen the theoretical part, serving as an instructor at the School of International Missions and Integral Action, where he also managed to go abroad to share his knowledge with armies of other nations.
He currently serves as operations liaison team leader in the Brigade Against Illegal Mining, where he is responsible for coordinating and accompanying operations against illegal mining in 23 departments.
So far in 2025, Major Molano's team has successfully supported more than 170 operations that have proportionally halted the scourge of deforestation, soil degradation, and mercury contamination of water sources.
This achievement has earned him a place among the honorees at the thirteenth edition of Noche de Honor (Night of Honor), which will take place on Friday, December 5, at the Parque del Café event center in the department of Quindío.
During his more than 170 operations, Major Molano has identified common factors that result in a phrase that comes out of his mouth with an excited voice:
"The environmental damage is shocking in all regions of the country." He also states that if the inhabitants of the riverbanks where illegal mining is aggressively practiced knew the consequences of this bad practice, they would be trying to help us put an end to this scourge.
The most affected departments are Antioquia, Cauca, and Bolívar, but smaller-scale illegal extraction sites have been detected in most of the country's 32 departments, where not only gold is illegally extracted, but also coal, construction materials, and coltan, the latter being essential for the manufacture of electronic components.
Finally, the magnitude of the country's current environmental problems means that more officers like Major Molano are needed. Through his comprehensive work, he contributes daily to the rescue and recovery of our national biodiversity.
Source:
Strategic Communications Directorate.
