During last month, the strength of the military operation has achieved the elimination of seven members of this illegal armed group, five arrests, four surrenders to justice and the recovery of three minors.
Within the framework of a continuous military operation, troops of the Infantry Battalion No. 10, of the Fourth Brigade, in coordination with the CTI (Technical Investigations Corps) of the Attorney General's Office, reported an important result against members of the residual organized armed group Structure 18, Mordisco faction, in the north of the department of Antioquia.
During the operation, four alleged members of this criminal structure were arrested, responsible for various illegal activities in the region. In the same way, it was possible the recovery of two minors and the confiscation of war items that were being allegedly used to carry out armed acts against the inhabitants and the Military Forces.
Among those arrested is alias Roman Trescodos, the main ringleader of the structure after the elimination of alias Ramiro. With more than 15 years of criminal experience, this individual would be responsible for forced displacements, kidnappings, collection of money from extortion and terrorist acts against the Military Forces, such as the activation of an improvised explosive device that took the lives of three members of the Military Forces in April 2022, in the municipality of Ituango.
Another of those arrested is alias Manteco, who apparently was sent with about 800 million pesos by alias Ivan Mordisco, from the department of Cauca, to strengthen Structure 18 in the north of Antioquia. This individual was one of the most wanted in the country, and the authorities provided up to 300 million pesos as a reward for information that would lead to his whereabouts.
Alias Manteco, who boasted on his social networks about his weapons, narcotics, drones and money, used these digital platforms to encourage young people to join the ranks of this illegal armed group. He was committing crimes in the GAO-r Carlos Patiño Front, with interference in the municipalities of El Tambo, Argelia, Balboa and Patía, in the department of Cauca. In addition, he was in charge of directing the training of new members and coordinating groups to carry out armed acts against Colombian National Army.
Another of those arrested is known as Liney, who apparently was as a nurse for this armed group and was in charge of providing first aid to its members; she even became alias Ramiro's trusted nurse.
In the operation, four rifles, five pistols, 26 magazines, more than 2,000 cartridges of different calibers, seven communications radios, six cell phones, explosives and elements of military accessories were found by troops, all put into custody of the authorities.
This operation complements the powerful results obtained last week against this criminal structure, which considerably reduces its presence and terrorist capacity in the north of Antioquia.
Source: Press Seventh Division of Colombian National Army
