The coordinated intelligence and investigative work managed to hit a network that combined armed pressure and systematic threats to sustain its illegal acts in several municipalities.
The Magdalena Medio Military Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group) in an interagency operation carried out in the village of Puente Sogamoso, municipality of Puerto Wilches, department of Santander, the Military Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group), in coordination with the CTI (Technical Investigations Corps) of the Attorney General's Office, reported the arrest in flagrante of two alleged members of the Edgar de Jesús Madrid Benjumea Substructure of the GAO Clan del Golfo Cartel.
Among those arrested is alias Melena, accused ringleader of the area in the village of Puente Sogamoso, and alias El Mago, who was included in the most wanted list of the department of Casanare for the crime of homicide.
The action was carried out through a search and search procedure, leding to directly hit this criminal structure, allegedly responsible for selective homicides, forced displacements and extortions in the villages of El Llanito and Puente Sogamoso, as well as in the municipalities of Barrancabermeja and Puerto Wilches, department of Santander, and Yondo, department of Antioquia.
According to the investigation, those arrested were allegedly involved in the systematic collection of money extorted from merchants, ranchers, farmers, palm growers, informal production groups, builders, and road construction contractors, who apparently were victims of intimidation and threats in order to force the payment of illegal monetary extortions.
During the operation, the authorities seized a Beretta-type traumatic pistol, a gray fragmentation grenade, a 40-millimeter-caliber grenade and ten 5.56-millimeter-caliber rifle cartridges. In the same way, three cell phones were found by troops and other items of interest that will be analyzed within the investigative process.
This result becomes a strategic blow against the finances and violent acts of this criminal organization in the Magdalena Medio region.
Source: Colombian National Army - Second Division Press
