Six men in a border town in Colombia set up an illegal roadblock, which was ignored by the presidential caravan ignored and three vehicles of the advance party were "hit with firearms."

The Presidency informed through a statement that "the attack with long-range firearms" was perpetrated in a rural area of El Tarra, which is part of the department of Norte de Santander, against "vehicles that were heading to the municipality to integrate the presidential caravan" and that a driver was retained by the attackers and then released.

"In this event one of the vehicles did not make it past the checkpoint and another was punctured. Two vehicles and a driver of the National Protection Unit (UNP) were held there, who was later released. The other vehicles and their crew managed to pass the checkpoint," the statement added.

El Tarra is part of the Catatumbo region, which covers 10,089 square kilometers, mostly jungle, in the Colombian department of Norte de Santander.

According to EFE, the area has a strong presence of National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas and the 33rd front of FARC dissidents, as well as a stronghold of the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) and other gangs that fight over drug trafficking corridors and coca crops.

Petro's government, as part of its "total peace" policy, has stated that its the government's intention to negotiate with the ELN as well as with other illegal groups that are willing to talk.

Former Colombian President Iván Duque was also the victim of an attack in Cúcuta, capital of Norte de Santander, on June 25 last year, when the helicopter in which he was traveling was shot at upon landing at the airport. He was on board with two of his ministers and several regional officials, who were all unharmed.