In the framework of operations against Residual Organized Armed Groups, the Military GAULA (ANTI-EXTORTION AND ANTI-KIDNAPPING GROUP) Tolima of the Sixth Brigade of Colombian National Army, in coordination with the National Elite GAULA No. 2, the Colombian Aerospace Force, the SIJIN (JUDICIAL POLICE) of the National Police and the CTI (Technical Investigations Corps) of the Attorney General's Office, report the arrest of alias Granadillo, accused of being ringleader of the terrorist support networks of the Geronimo Galeano group of the Isaías Pardo Central Bloc.
The operation was carried out through ground infiltration, search procedures and maneuvers operations in rural and urban areas of the municipality of San Antonio, department of Tolima. During the procedure, the individual tried to evade the action of the authorities by fleeing to the urban area of the municipality; however, thanks to the encirclement of the military operation, he was arrested.
According to the investigations, alias Granadillo would be the right-hand man of alias El Enfermero, the main ringleader of the Geronimo Galeano front, as well as a direct link with alias Darwin, the financial ringleader of this criminal structure. This individual would be linked to the alleged participation in the terrorist attack against the Police Station of the village of El Limón, in Chaparral, during the night of candles, in addition to carrying out intimidation against merchants, ranchers and various productive groups of the south of Tolima for extortion purposes.
He would in the same way be responsible for coordinating logistical activities related to the storage and transportation of weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as the distribution of extortion leaflets. The investigations in the same way link him with criminal intelligence work against units of the Military Forces and with the criminal coordination conducted by different GAO-r subgroups, especially with the Ismael Ruiz structure of the Isaías Pardo Central Bloc. In the same way, he would be in charge of supplying vehicles to facilitate the mobility of ringleaders of this organization, including alias La Enfermera and alias Darwin.
The arrested was put into custody of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office 263 GAULA (ANTI-EXTORTION AND ANTI-KIDNAPPING GROUP) DECOC for the crimes of extortion and association to commit crimes for extortion purposes.
This result of the military operation represents a significant blow to the logistical and financial structures of the GAO-r in the south of Tolima, directly weakening its resources of intimidation, financing and criminal mobility. The military forces will continue to carry out sustained and coordinated operations with other State institutions to neutralize these structures and protect the inhabitants.
Source: Press - Sixth Brigade of Colombian National Army
