Feud between rival drug groups in Colombia has resulted in heavy clashes that killed at least 42 people, including several civilians, a regional peace advisor said Wednesday, Xinhua reported.
The clashes took place in the northern part of Colombia's southwestern state Narino, said Xavier Hernandez, peace advisor to the local government.
Hernandez added that the two responsible paramilitary groups are Los Rastrojos and Aguilas Negras, who were feuding over control of drug trafficking routes and a drug-planting area of 5,000 hectares of coca.
Fabio Trujillo, secretary of the Narino state government, told Xinhua via telephone: "We have received information about the deaths, and the local government has begun to look into recent clashes of similar types," Trujillo said.
Peace advisor Hernandez added that a special investigation team consisting of the Peace Office of Narino, the United Nations and the Organization of American States would arrive in the troubled areas this weekend.
Currently, Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
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