Why are Colombian troops on the Venezuela borders?

Colombian army forces are seen at the inauguration of a new unit to discuss rebel and criminal gang activities along its border with Venezuela in Cucuta, Colombia.

Colombia on Wednesday deployed a new unit of 14,000 military personnel to increase government control over a conflict hotspot near the Venezuelan border, where several armed groups are competing to control cocaine production.

The new unit, known from CENOR, located in the northeastern province of Norte de Santander, is the largest in the recent history of Colombia.

During a ceremony on Wednesday to mark the launch of CENOR, President Ivan Duque said the unit is set to destroy drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as provide funding for organized crime.

CENOR will face dissident members of the demobilized FARC rebels rejecting a 2016 peace agreement, National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas, and criminal groups, including the Clan del Gulfo, competing to control coca cultures, the main ingredient of cocaine.

The region is one of the most intense areas of Colombia and the position of recent high-profile attacks.

In June, FARC dissidents blasted a car bomb at an army base near Cucuta, wounding hundreds. Later that month, bullets were shot at a helicopter transporting Duque.

The use is followed by investments to handle poverty and substitution and elimination projects to put an end to illicit crops, the administration stated.

Colombia's nearly six decades of armed conflict has killed over 260,000 people and displaced millions.

The Andean country has long accused neighbouring Venezuela of protecting it from illegally armed groups and allowing drug trafficking in exchange for a profit reduction. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denied the charges.

"We must ensure that there is no collusion - as we have seen from the Venezuelan authoritarian - in the border areas to promote drug trafficking and other crime," Duque stated.