One of them is alias “Hermes” or “Negro Costeño”, who would have been the fourth ringleader of the armed group. With his decision he may receive the benefits granted by the National Government for the social reintegration.
In the course of a joint operation, with the support of troops of the National Army, the Navy and the Air Force, it was possible to submit to Justice seven individuals who claimed to be members of the Organized Armed Group (GAO) Estructura 1 Carolina Ramírez. One of them is alias Hermes or Negro Costeño, fourth ringleader of this Residual Organized Armed Group (GAO-r) and who, under pressure in the area, decided to leave their weapons and take advantages of the social reintegration.
In the same event, two minors and four kids, who are children of the individuals and also were members of this armed group, were placed into custody of the Colombian Institute of Family Wellbeing. In addition, 6 rifles, short weapons, military accessories, communications equipment, ammunition of different calibers and documentation were seized. This material would have been used for terrorist attacks and other criminal activities.
Alias Hermes or Negro Costeño would have been in charge of trafficking illicit substances and extort civilians in the neighboring villages of Caquetá River, such as Las Delicias, Santander, Los Estrechos, Isla Pizarro in the village of La Tagua, in the municipality of Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo.
Alias Hermes, would have had more than 14 years of criminal record. He belonged to the Ejército Revolucionario Guevarista (ERG) (revolutionary group) in the departments of Chocó and Risaralda in 2001. Since 2018 he was part of the group of alias Alonso 45 of the GAO-r Estructura 1, in the municipality of Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo, where he carried out criminal intelligence in the urban area and extorted and intimidated civilians.
He also would have participated in 2017 in the kidnapping of Harley López, an officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in the village of Barranquillita, in the municipality of Miraflores, Guaviare.
He would have directed and controlled illegal boat roadblocks along the Caquetá River, the Peneya River and the the Caguán River. Likewise, he is accused of having participated and directed the attack against units of the National Navy, on the shore of the Caquetá River. Besides, he was in charge of kidnapping and extortion of the Puerto Leguizamo merchants’ guild.
By these surrenders, the acquisition of war material and military accessories is hit, especially in the department of Putumayo, on the border of Caquetá and Amazonas. It also hit drug trafficking incomes, recruitment of minors, extortion to small and medium traders and ranchers of the region and the terrorist attacks planned by this armed group.
Source: National Army News Agency
