The Caribbean Bloc of the FARC-EP is a medium-sized FARC-EP bloc which operates in the Northern areas of Colombia and along the Caribbean coast, with routes and access to the coast being strategically important, and is thus sometimes referred to as the Northern Bloc. At the end of the 1990s the group had much control over the rural areas connecting the urban centers of the Caribbean Region, but has since been forced to retreat into the more inhospitable Andes. The group's leaders have been held responsible for numerous kidnappings and killings along the entire Caribbean coast, including the urban centers Cartagena, Barranquilla, Valledupar and Santa Marta. This bloc was also the center of the high-profile kidnapping of Fernando Araújo, who recovered his freedom during an Colombian National Army offensive in early 2007.
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The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Because of the current conflict existing in the country, much of the information recovered is conflicting and should not be taken as absolutely reliable. Some of the believed divisions or "fronts", as they are commonly call them, are shown below. It is worth noting that many of these fronts sometimes work together towards a certain mission, while others are further divided into "columns" and "companies" with a smaller number of members. For more general information see FARC-EP Chain of Command.
19th Front
Also known as the José Prudencio Padilla Front, it is composed by up to 200 combatants and operates mostly in the Magdalena Department. this front hasn't been active in recent years.
35th Front
Also known as the Benkos Bioho Front, it is composed by up to 220 combatants and operates mostly in the Sucre Department.
37th Front
This front is considered by many to be the most dangerous faction of the Caribbean Bloc. It is composed by up to 250 combatants and operates mostly in the Bolívar Department. The 37th Front's historically strong presence in northern Colombia, once controlling large amounts of land. Military pressure in the last years forced the unit to retreat deeper south while their numbers dwindled. The front is announced dismantled by the Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos on June 2012. But in September 2012, 6 guerilleros including the front leader, were killed while four other were arrested.
41st Front
Also known as the Cacique Upar Front, this front is composed by up to 180 combatants and operates mostly in the Cesar Department.
59th Front
This front is composed by up to 200 combatants and operates mostly in the Guajira Department and Cesar Department.
José Antequera Urban Front
This urban network is directly composed by 30 combatants, although its network is suspected to include a much larger number of members. It is considered FARC's greatest influence in the coastal city Barranquilla. Its suspected leader was arrested in 2006.