One soldier died and another was injured during a military operation against the Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), also known as ‘Los Pachenca’, in Magdalena, military sources reported.
The events occurred on Saturday, the Army detailed in a thread on the social network I’m sorry.
“I ordered to strengthen military operations in the area to find those responsible for this reprehensible act. I stand in solidarity with the family and friends of our non-commissioned officer at this difficult time,” said Army Commander General Luis Emilio Cardozo.
The Military Forces confirmed that the soldier who was injured is out of danger.
This operation occurs just four days after the Colombian authorities arrested the top head of the ACSN, Carmen Evelio Castillo, alias ‘Muñeca’, when he was traveling in a taxi to a clinic where he was going to undergo cosmetic surgery to change his appearance. appearance in Pereira, capital of the department of Risaralda (center).
Castillo, who began his criminal career 18 years ago, is in charge of ‘Los Pachenca’, an organization made up of 250 members, and which, according to authorities, is responsible for extortion, more than 150 murders and drug trafficking activities in the departments of Magdalena, Cesar and Guajira.
This group was born from the demobilization of the paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the group to which the most homicides are attributed during the armed conflict.
This gang operates mainly in the department of Magdalena, having its base in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, from where it runs drug trafficking and extortion networks in this tourist area.
Furthermore, it is one of the groups that has shown its willingness to negotiate with the Colombian Government of Gustavo Petro, declaring a unilateral ceasefire for more than a year and a half while waiting to establish dialogues that have not yet materialized.
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