The mayor of Barrancabermeja, Jonathan Vásquez Gómez, confirmed on his dedicated to the extortion of businessmen, palm growers and B/meja transporters. Among those captured, 2 ringleaders.”
This was also confirmed by the public force that operates in Magdalena Medio by pointing out that among those captured are two financial leaders of the Edgar Madrid Benjumea substructure and that the interventions occurred in the municipalities of Barrancabermeja, San Pablo, Simití, Gamarra, Cantagallo and Puerto Boyacá.
The national police reported that the sustained operation “Esparta” has resulted in the dismantling of the Edgar Madrid Benjumea substructure of the Gulf Clan, known for its criminal activities in the Magdalena Medio region.
During Operation Sparta, eight individuals have been captured, including two financial leaders wanted for crimes of extortion and conspiracy to commit a crime. In this coordinated action there was collaboration between the National Police, the National Army and the Attorney General’s Office.
The municipalities of Barrancabermeja, San Pablo, Simití, Gamarra and Puerto Boyacá were the scene of these simultaneous interventions, which resulted in the arrest of the members of this criminal organization. Among the seized items are three cellular mobile devices used to make extortionate calls and messages.
The blow to the Clan del Golfo is based on complaints filed by nearly ten victims, including unions of merchants, transporters, palm growers and Ecopetrol contractors in the south of Bolívar. The exhaustive investigation, which spanned approximately a year, allowed for the collection of compelling evidence through telephone interceptions, follow-ups and database queries, it was reported.
The detainees, who received large sums of money from their criminal activities, exerted pressure on the victims through intimidation with firearms, summonses to rural areas, and threats to use explosive devices. They charged sums that ranged from 30 thousand pesos per hectare of oil palm planted to one million pesos per month per commercial establishment.
Among those captured, “Alitadepollo” stands out, an urban financial leader with influence in several municipalities in the region, and “Marquitos” or “Alacrán”, another urban financial leader. People like “Pájaro”, “Kalet”, “Carvajal”, “Jesús”, “Irene” and “La Mona” have also been arrested, who played key roles in collecting extortion and putting pressure on the victims.
This operation has not only impacted the financial and logistical structures of the Clan del Golfo, but also represents a significant blow to its operational capacity in the Magdalena Medio region.
