In an operation carried out by the Criminal Investigation Section of the National Police, the capture by court order of Rodrigo Jalet Blanquicet Prado, known as ‘Yoyo’, one of the most wanted criminals in Santa Marta. The arrest of ‘Yoyo’, who was allegedly the second in command of the criminal gang nicknamed ‘Los Todo Terreno’, was carried out in the San Andresito sector, after an intense investigation that lasted for approximately 10 months.
This individual faces charges of aggravated and qualified robbery, in relation to a series of robberies committed against tourists, particularly those belonging to the LGBTIQ+ community. According to information provided by the Santa Marta Metropolitan Police, ‘Yoyo’ was responsible for coordinating the movements of the victims, the distribution of weapons to commit the robberies, the sale of the stolen objects on the black market and the distribution of the illicitly obtained profits.
The police revealed that during the investigation they were able to identify the members of the criminal organization, as well as their specific roles. It was determined that they used fake profiles on dating applications such as Grindr, Tinder and Badoo to contact their victims, whom they persuaded to meet in places such as El Rodadero and the Historic Center of the city. Once there, they were intimidated with firearms and forced to board taxis that took them to remote areas, where they were beaten and stripped of their belongings.
The gang, known as ‘Los Todo Terreno’, had a meticulously organized operation, with members in charge of different tasks. Some were dedicated to creating false profiles and contacting victims, while others carried out surveillance and monitoring to facilitate the execution of the robberies. According to the authorities, this criminal group would have perpetrated more than 50 robberies, mainly aimed at tourists from the LGBTIQ+ community.
According to the police report, the gang generated monthly income estimated at around $10,000,000 pesos, from the sale of stolen objects, mainly high-end mobile phones, which were sold for a commercial value of up to $3,000,000 pesos each. one. In addition to cash, they forced victims to provide keys to access their accounts, allowing them to unlock the devices and make additional sales.
The capture of ‘Yoyo’ is a significant blow against crime in Santa Marta. The investigation continues to identify and capture other members of the gang and put an end to their criminal activities.
