Since a peace deal in 2017 with the United Nations, the group has reformed into an official political party, but a few thousand rebels still continue with drugs, arms, and human trafficking. Multiple others have been kidnapped for weeks or months after venturing into the Gap. A backpacker from Sweden was shot in the head in 2013 and found two years later. Many from the group have made their home in the lawless jungles of the Darién Gap. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have made a name for themselves since 1964, terrorizing the government and many cities in Colombia. The lawlessness and lack of many residents make the Darién Gap a perfect path for cocaine and other drugs on their journey from South America. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to bring drugs into the U.S., so drug traffickers are turning to other avenues. We might as well lie down and smoke a cigarette until the lights go out.” Colin Davis/Unsplash Drug traffickers and FARC armed guerillas
If a larger pit viper were to strike, the expert concedes no amount of antivenom would be enough to save us. After receiving their antivenom kit and instructions for use before the crossing, he said, “If one of us is bitten, we have ten minutes to inject the antivenom before death. But, if left untreated, the venom can cause local necrosis (death of body tissue), leading to gangrene or, in the worst cases, death.Ĭonflict journalist Jason Motlagh crossed the Gap in 2016 for a Dateline story. Antivenom usually solves the problem if you get bitten. They’re irritable, fast-moving, and large enough to bite above your knees. The fer-de-lance pit viper is one of the most venomous creatures in the Darién Gap. Brian Gratwicke/Flickr Fer-de-lance pit vipers Instead, you should be concerned with these very real threats.
The list of deadly things inside the Gap is lengthy, and dehydration and starvation are the least of your concerns. Thompson and every expedition since ran headlong into what the Gap is most famous for: Things that will kill you. Hitting the Darién Gap, he brought in a team of 64 engineers and scientists to hack their way through the jungle and float the Range Rovers across the rivers. His team of six started in Alaska, driving all the way to Panama in a newly created Range Rover. The first-ever successful vehicle expedition through the Darién Gap was led by British army officer Gavin Thompson.
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