During 2021 and 2022, 29 ELN members demobilized and three minors were recovered.
Within the framework of the operations conducted by the Colombian Military Forces in the municipality of Litoral del San Juan - department of Choc贸, it was possible that three alleged members of the Organized Armed Group, GAO, ELN voluntarily surrender to troops of the Colombian Navy that were carrying out territorial control work in the sectors of Isla Mono and Playa Choncho.
Intelligence led to establish that these individuals belong to the structure Omar Gomez of the GAO ELN and would have participated in the armed conflict that took place on the last Sunday, may 1, at the mouth of the San Juan river, conducted by this criminal organization and the GAO Clan del Golfo, to battle for the control of the illegal activities in the area; two suspected members of the ELN lost their lives.
At the time of their presentation to the troops of the Colombian Navy, the individuals gave nine shotgun-type firearms, an AK47-type assault rifle, an antipersonnel mine-type improvised explosive device, more than 270 units of ammunition, in addition to material of military accessories and garments alluding to the GAO ELN; this material, together with the personnel, was put into custody of the authority. In the same way, primary medical assistance was provided to one of the individuals who had a rifle shot wound on the chest in a medical center in Buenaventura; he was evacuated in an ambulance of the Naval Institution.
The individuals stated that they decided to get away from this criminal organization due to the constant pressure caused by the ongoing development of military operations being conducted in this area of the country, in addition to the discontent within the illegal group due to the bad treatment, threats and intimidation of the members of the GAO ELN, bad diet and low morale caused by the recent strikes against them.
In accordance with what is established through the testimonies of the demobilized, Organized Armed Groups who commit crimes in the departments of Cauca, Choc贸, Nari帽o and Valle del Cauca, are recruiting young people with false promises of money, which are not fulfilled; once admitted in their ranks new members do not receive the payment promised, but threats to his life and the lives of their families, with the aim of forcing them to commit crimes such as targeted killings, collection of money from extortion, traffic or production of narcotics and armed clashes with other criminal groups, with which the mobility routes of drug trafficking are disputed.
The Navy of Colombia reaffirms the invitation to the members of this Armed Group Organized to surrender to the authorities, and receive the benefits that the Government provides to them as the move to a home of peace, where he received initial assistance on accommodation, food, clothing, toiletry kit personal and transport allowance, psychosocial support and economic benefits to start a new life project. In addition, demobilized will be able to obtain a certificate as a demobilized person, granted by the Operational Committee for the Laying Down of firearms (CODA).
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia