Farmers in Colombia’s Putumayo region uncovered a rusted, cigar‑shaped Mark-82 bomb on a coca farm just a mile from the Ecuadorian border. The 6‑foot cylinder, painted olive‑green, left a crater and a 500‑pound payload that still carries an active fuze. Local witnesses say the device fell during a March airstrike in the region of southern Colombia near the San Miguel River.

President Gustavo Petro accused Ecuador of dropping the bomb, citing no Colombian military involvement. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa denied the claim, insisting all operations stayed within its airspace. The dispute escalated on national television, prompting Colombian forces to mobilize a disposal team and sparking diplomatic tension that could affect cross‑border trade and defense cooperation in the region of South America.

Experts warn that the bomb’s active fuze and 500‑pound payload could unleash 192 pounds of TNT, with fragmentation dangerous up to 750 feet. Disposal requires a specialized Colombian army unit, while the incident raises questions about the safety of Mark-82 stockpiles used by multiple nations. The event may prompt stricter oversight of defense contracts and cross‑border logistics in the region.