 U.S., Israeli, British and Australian military instructors were hired to teach at paramilitary training centers.By the end of the 1980s, the MAS had a significant presence in 8 of Colombia's 32 departments—Antioquia, Boyacá, Caquetá, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Meta, Putumayo, and Santander.During this period, a stated goal of the groups was to kill members of the Patriotic Union or any political groups that opposed drug trafficking.