- Alias Mayimbú had proclaimed himself as the main ringleader of the FARC dissidents in southwestern Colombia, after the neutralization of alias Jhonier.
- With the neutralization of Mayimbú, more than 222, including ringleaders and members of the FARC dissidents and Eln, have already been arrested or neutralized in Cauca.
- Troops conduct the Democracy Plan and provide security for the elections in the Colombian southwest
Minister of Defense, Diego Molano, said that the neutralization of Mayimbu is a victory for the Military Forces. Mayimbú is responsible for terrorist operations, extortion, forced displacement, murder of social leaders and environmentalists; he is also recruiter of minors in the departments of Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Nariño.
“On the instructions of President Iván Duque, we have come to Popayán today in order to make an assessment of operation Jaguar, which this morning, after a permanent operation, constant intelligence, and courage and discipline of the soldiers and police officers of Colombia, resulted in the neutralization of alias Mayimbú. That is a victory for the southwest, it is a victory for Cauca, for Valle and for Nariño; he was one of the worst criminals who plagued this region with violence,” Minister highlighted.
Minister Molano in the same way reported that, last February, after the Military Forces shot down alias Jhonier, that criminal had proclaimed himself as the main ringleader of the FARC dissidents in the Colombian southwest, and was responsible for committing terrorist attacks in Padilla, Santander de Quilichao and Corinto (Cauca) and extortions against peasants, farmers, small and medium entrepreneurs in this region of the country.
“This dangerous criminal, who had been considered a high-value target, was shot down by law enforcement; he was an important danger to the security of this region. Now he will not be able to continue causing harm to citizens. The neutralization of alias Mayimbú frees this area from a murderer, kidnapper and torturer. There are already more than 222, including ringleaders and members of the FARC dissidents and Eln, arrested or neutralized in Cauca,” stated Molano.
On the other hand, the Minister reported on the arrest of alias Alexis, in Dagua (Valle del Cauca) member of the Adán Izquierdo column of the FARC dissidents, along with three other criminals of the same structure. This ringleader promoted extortions and kidnappings in that area of the country.
Additionally, members of the Military Forces carried out the neutralization of alias Mechudo, of the Carlos Patiño column of the FARC dissidents, in the municipality of Argelia (Cauca), where he was the main recruiter of minors.
“They don't know what else to do, those terrorists, those bandits, those underage recruiters. There is a video where there is evidence of this vile behaviors of the dissidents of the Farc, who still, in the municipality of Algeria, in its rural area, continue to recruit minors, despite all the consequences that it has as a crime against humanity, and that's why we have this heavy blow against the dissidences of the Farc, in the case of alias Mayimbú, in the case of alias Alexis, in Valle del Cauca, in the case of alias Mechudo, it means that here we have the commitment of all the Military Forces towards the security and the tranquility of all the inhabitants of Cauca, Valle del Cauca, and in the same way in Nariño”, highlighted the head of the ministry.
Finally, Minister Molano informed that the commitment of the Military Forces is constant in their work to improve the security of the elections on June 19 throughout the country. “In the Democracy Plan there are more than 320 thousand men throughout the length and breadth of the country, so that, in all polling stations, 12 thousand nationwide, and in all polling stations in Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Nariño, elections can be held and Colombians can go out to vote freely. In these days, security measures will be reinforced at all our military and police bases, to give peace, security and tranquility to all Colombians.”
Source: Defense Sector Communications Office - Ministry of National Defense