The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, reported this Tuesday the capture of alias 'Cheo', considered one of the leaders of the General Staff of Blocks and Front (EMBF), in the department of Huila, in the south of the country.
De la Espriella detailed on his social networks that the arrested is Eliseo Ninco Páez, alias 'Cheo', whom he identified as the "logistical leader of the Iván Díaz front of the Jorge Suárez Briceño Block," a dissident faction of the FARC led by Alexander Díaz Mendoza, alias 'Calarca'.
This organization is integrated into the EBMG and carries out its activities mainly in the departments of Meta, Guaviare, Caquetá, Tolima, and Huila.
The operation was carried out in the municipality of Neiva, in this last department, in compliance with a "judicial order," emphasized the Colombian president.
The detainee is attributed with supplying weapons, extortion activities, and "participating in actions against" civilians and the Colombian Army, "including the launching of explosive devices against commercial establishments." "He was wanted for simple kidnapping, qualified and aggravated theft, and trafficking and possession of firearms and ammunition," added the president.
De la Espriella reiterated that "in Colombia there will be no safe territory for criminals." "Let it be clear: we are going to search for them, capture them, and bring them to justice wherever they are," he concluded.
The head of State indicated this Monday that more than 1,500 arrests have already been made in operations against paramilitary groups and drug trafficking since his arrival to the Presidency on August 7.