Barrancabermeja is a geostrategically important city, the capital of Magdalena Medio, a region with immense natural resources, petrol, mines and the river Magdalena. Along with macroprojects such as African palm, rubber and cocoa, great tracts of lands are used for illegal cultivation making this a territory disputed by narcotraffic mafias, landowners, and national and multinational big business. For years, they have been trying to gain possession of the land, sowing terror and death through the action of paramilitary groups.