Alias ‘Cantinflas’ in 2017 caused the social and environmental emergency in the municipality of El Carmen, in Norte de Santander, which left approximately 14,000 people without potable water service, result of an attack on the Pipeline Caño Limón - Coveñas. Similarly, he would be responsible for executing the terrorist operation in the municipality of Pailitas, in Cesar, which caused the death of two people and severe wounds in two members of the National Police.
In operations framed in the Heroes de la Libertad Bicentenary Campaign Plan, troops of the Vulcano Task Force and the Energy Operational Command No. 1 of the Second Division, jointly and inter-institutionally with the Colombian Air Force and Prosecutor General of the Nation, in rural area of the municipality of El Carmen, in the department of Norte de Santander, achieved the capture of alias' Cantinflas', accused of being be a ringleader of the division of the Organized Armed Group (GAO) – Eln, of the front 'Camilo Torres Restrepo' and head of the Terrorism Support Networks of the company “Capitan Francisco Bossio”.
Through a rigorous military intelligence work since 2017, it was possible to know the tactical movements that this individual used to evade the Security forces, as well as to report each of the terrorist operations that he allegedly carried out against the civilians, against the troops of the National Army and critical petroleum infrastructure, in Norte de Santander.
According to military intelligence, alias ‘Cantinflas’ apparently was 29 years within the GAO Eln, where he began his criminal activity as a transporter and trader of coca base paste in the Camilo Torres Restrepo front. In 2004 he become an explosives expert and sniper of this criminal group, installing mined fields in sectors such as La Libertad, Guarumeras and Tornaderos and El Carmen, in Norte de Santander.
In addition, he would be responsible for collecting money from extortion against merchants and enterprises in the municipality of El Carmen, as well as for executing the terrorist attack on the Pipeline Caño Limón - Coveñas, in a rural area of the municipality of Guamalito, Norte de Santander, which caused the oil spill on the Chimitarra stream, a source of water supply for the consumption of the inhabitants of the sector.
Alias ‘Cantinflas’ had a current arrest warrant for the crimes of rebellion, terrorism and environmental pollution. Troops of the Special Energy and Road Battalion No.10, attached to the Energy Operational Command No.1, arrived at a house in the village of Pajitas, municipality of El Carmen, in Norte de Santander, and proceeded to capture alias ‘Cantinflas’.
The individual was put into custody of the authorities. In this way, the National Army hits the logistical and financial capacity of GAO Eln and its structures, who loses monthly more than 3,000 billion pesos, product of the terrorist operations of this individual.
Source: Vulcano Task Force
