This individual is accused of being the second ringleader of the group that committed crimes in the rural area of Dagua, he would in the same way order kidnappings, extortion, intimidation and terrorist operations in the region.
Troops of the National Army, together with the Prosecutor's Office, in development of the Merkava Military Operation, arrested the individual known as Barbas, along with three other individuals, in the villages El Placer and La Cascada, rural area of the municipality of Queremal, municipality of Dagua, western Valle del Cauca.
In compliance with judicial search warrants and intelligence information it was possible to reach a house inhabited by the individual accused of being alias Barbas. Two vans were confidantes and 112 million pesos, apparently the product of extortion from merchants, were found by troops, as well as three pistols, a magazine, hand grenades, ammunition of different calibers, military accessories material and communication equipment.
This individual, according to the authorities, would have a criminal history of more than three years in the organization. He currently has an arrest warrant for the crimes of kidnapping, aggravated extortion, rebellion, sedition and qualified and aggravated theft.
Apparently alias Barbas would be responsible of the kidnapping of police officer Eleazer Smith Vargas Ladino and six other people, on April 10, 2022. In the same way, he would be responsible for the attack on the police station in the municipality of Queremal and the theft of several vehicles, which belonged to a renewable energy company.
During the procedure, three more alleged members of this group were in the same way arrested in flagrante delicto, including alias Cachettes and alias Tatuco, the latter a former FARC member of the frente Primero structure that committed crimes in the department of Guaviare. These individuals were put into custody of the authority to continue with their prosecution process.
With this result, the illicit activities, crimes that attack personal freedom and the terrorist capacity of the organized armed group of Jaime Martínez, with which they intended to frighten the inhabitants of the department, are countered.
Source: Press - National Army
