The four individuals were arrested by means of a search procedure, with elements of war. Apparently, they would be in charge of collecting money from extortion against associated with illegal mining and they would be planning terrorist acts in rural areas of the region.
Within the framework of joint, coordinated and inter-institutional operations aimed at strengthening security in the southwest of the country, in the last few hours, troops of the Third Brigade of Colombian National Army, together with units of the Colombian Navy and in coordination with the National Police and the Attorney General's Office, carried out an operation that led to the arrest of four individuals in the village of San Cipriano, Special District of Buenaventura, department of Valle de Cauca.
The military operation was carried out by judicial search warrant, after several months of military intelligence work, which led the soldiers of the Mountain Battalion No. 3, in conjunction with the Navy Infantry River Battalion No. 24, to find these individuals who remained hidden in rural areas, from where they allegedly planned attacks and terrorist acts against the inhabitants and the Military Forces, especially on road routes and areas related to illegal mining in the district.
During the procedure, 2 long weapons, a short weapon, 70 cartridges of different calibers, a fragmentation grenade, 2 magazines and garments for the exclusive use of the Military Forces were seized, elements that would be used to carry out attacks in the region. Those arrested and the items found were put into custody of the authorities for their respective judicial process.
According to the investigations, those arrested would belong to the organized armed group ELN, Frente Luis Carlos Cárdenas Arbeláez, a structure led by alias el Mono, accused of coordinating the collection of money from extortion against, planning criminal acts and ordering terrorist attacks in the Special District of Buenaventura. This result constitutes a significant blow dealt to this criminal network that sought to consolidate its illegal control through intimidation and the use of violence.
Source: Colombian National Army - Third Division Press
