In the rescue operation, the death of an important ringleader took place as well as the capture of three other members of this illegal organization.
In an operation of the Military Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group) of Santander, of the Fifth Brigade, attached to the Second Division, in coordination with the National Police and interagency with the CTI (Technical Investigations Corps) of the Prosecutor's Office, it was possible to rescue a merchant who had been kidnapped on Saturday, the 21st. July, in the morning, by members of the Efraín Pabón Pabón front of the Eln in rural area of Piedecuesta, Department of Santander.
This timely reaction of the troops, was possible thanks to the information provided by the network of allies and as soon as the abduction was known, the authorities initiated the plan to find the criminals and safeguard the life of the citizen.
During the operation, carried out since dawn on Sunday, July 23, in the village Alto del Roble in the rural area of Piedecuesta, the troops found the criminals and in the middle of a confrontation, they rescued the merchant. For the release of the man, this illegal armed group demanded one billion pesos, 50 million pesos were recovered during the operation.
On the other hand, during the events, alias Cesar or El Indio, second in command of the Efraín Pabón Pabón Front and head of the so-called finances commission "18 de Junio" of the ELN, died. In the same way, alias Neimar, head of the commission, Mario Ramírez Ortiz, alias Ronald and alias Coyote, were captured in flagrante delicto and accused for the crime of abduction. In the same way, it was possible to find three 9mm pistols and ammunition for them.
A soldier was slightly wounded and he is already under medical observation.
Alias Cesar or El Indio, had been in the organization for 22 years. He belonged to the extinct Frente 23 of the FARC, and apparently he would have benefited with the negotiation process with the FARC, an event that would have set him free.
This group is responsible for the attacks against the Public Force, such as the killing of 11 soldiers and kidnapping of 1 non-commissioned officer in Chitagá. The murder of 4 policemen in Toledo (Norte de Santander). It is also responsible for the burning of public transport vehicles on the Via Soberanía and attacks on the Caño Limón Coveñas pipeline. They also controlled and facilitate the smuggling of live cattle and also fuel, and in the same way they would be responsible for kidnappings and extortions, in the Department of Santander and Norte de Santander.
The incident occurred when the citizen, 56, was going from the municipality of San Andrés, Department of santander, with two workers. They were intercepted by these individuals in the sector known as La Judía, in the municipality of Santa Bárbara, Department of Santander.
UNIDOS SOMOS INVENCIBLES (United we are Invincible), under this slogan, with the support of the civilian population, the authorities work in a joint, coordinated, interagency and inter-institutional manner to guarantee the security and tranquility of the Department of Santander.
