On October 28, 2021, five workers from a hydrocarbon logistics company were kidnapped while traveling from Cubará to Bogotá. After months of investigation, the authorities managed to dismantle the criminal network responsible for the kidnapping.
Operation “Libertad”, carried out by the GAULA of the Arauca police department in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office, the Police Intelligence Directorate, Esparta and the Military GAULA, resulted in the capture of three individuals allegedly linked to the Front Domingo Laín Sáenz of the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The arrests were made during raids carried out in Bogotá DC, Villanueva Casanare and the rural area of Fortul Arauca. The detainees face charges of kidnapping for ransom and, according to authorities, have a history of homicide, extortion, conspiracy to commit a crime, and illegal possession of firearms.
The investigation revealed that the criminal organization was dedicated to kidnapping contractor engineers, keeping them in captivity for up to six months and demanding ransoms exceeding three billion pesos.
The initial kidnapping was detected when company supervisors lost contact with the workers and noticed irregularities in the satellite tracking system of the vehicle in which they were traveling.
The authorities reiterated their call to citizens to report any suspicious activity related to kidnappings or extortion through the national toll-free number 165.
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