Through the 'Uncle – Uncle!' modality, the individuals had managed to get approximately 50 million pesos.
Since 2016, the authorities began monitoring and investigating the Organized Crime Group known as 'Los Primos', taking into account that the method used by these extortionists was to make contact with their victims, refering to them as “uncle” or “cousin” and simulate a legal problem for which they need financial help.
"Uncle, I'm in a problem. Help me, but do not contact with anyone. Entering Neiva, I hit some people with my vehicle and the police want to take me. There's a sergeant who says he's going to help me, but he asks me to pay him 2 million pesos. "
Later the victim receives the call of the supposed Police, who asks for personal information of the nephew to be able to help him and minutes later, there is again the call of the relative (the cousin) begging for the money before “they begin judicial process against him”.
The anguish of the interlocutor generates psychological pressure and the trust in the supposed help of the Security forces, which leads the victim to give the money, via money transfer companies.
Several evidences were collected, which led to the issuance of the detention warrants that the Military Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group) - Huila and its component CTI (Technical Investigations Corps) of the Prosecutor's Office, made effective to detain the individuals Edwin Jesús Muñoz Castellanos, Miguel Ángel García Rubio and Diego Alejandro Gironza Herrera. The captures took place in Manizales, Ibagué and Cali.
The authorities work on the operations to achieve the capture of two other individuals, in order to achieve the total disarticulation of the group.
The military Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group) of Huila reiterates the call to the community so that, facing the suspicion of being a victim of extortion, go to the authorities, providing, through the denunciation, the best tool to achieve the capture of the perpetrators of this type of extortion.
Source: Ninth Brigade - Army
