Within the framework of military operations against drug trafficking, troops of the Command Against Drug Trafficking and Transnational Threats (CONAT), in coordination with the National Police and the Attorney General's Office, in the village of Pandiguando, municipality of El Tambo, department of Cauca, recovered four minors recruited apparently by the residual organized armed group (GAO-r) Carlos Patiño Structure.
During the operation, two more people, allegedly members of this organization, looked for surrender ways.
The young people, aged by 15 and 17, told the soldiers that they had been in the GAO-r for nine and five months, respectively; one of them had been trained as a drone pilot to carry out criminal intelligence against the troops that carry out military operations and intercept coca-growing complexes in the area. They in the same way expressed that they decided to leave the illegal group due to the uncertainty generated by the permanent operations of the Military Forces and the constant voluntary surrenders of their comrades.
An 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man surrendered to justice at the scene, who had been part of the GAO-r for six and two years, respectively, occupying the roles of group ringleader and squad commander.
The teenagers gave the troops 3 longrifles, 3 handguns, 29 magazines, 1098 cartridges of different calibers and 2 multipurpose vests. They were put into custody of the Colombian Institute of Family Wellbeing (ICBF) and other authorities, in order to work for the restitution of their rights.
For their part, the two people were assisted in accordance with the protocols of the national Government through the Humanitarian Assistance Group for the Demobilized (GAHD).
The recovery of these minors complements the voluntary surrender in recent months of eleven alleged members of the Carlos Patiño Structure, under the command of alias Ivan Mordisco. These results reflect the synergy of the military operation of the Brigade Against Drug Trafficking No. 3 in the department of Cauca.
Source: Press – National Army
