The issue focused on "transnational criminal gangs", with authorities saying a large number of the suspected offenders were foreign nationals and had links to drug trafficking organisations.

The government said it was concerned that the suspects were not only involved with criminal gangs in Colombia but were linked to the criminal underworld of Colombia's Amazon region.

"These are people who will be involved in illegal activities of the drug trade in our country if they come here and get involved in crime in the future," said the interior minister.
