One of the involved individuals would be part of a structure of the FARC dissidents with presence in Palmira; another one would belong to the criminal group ‘La Local’, which has influence in Buenaventura; and a third one would be a member of a network of hitmen in Cúcuta.
Prosecutors appointed to the Special Investigation Unit (Unidad Especial de Investigación) achieved the prosecution of three people allegedly responsible for crimes against social leaders in Valle del Cauca and Norte de Santander, who must serve a prison sentence.
Attack with hitmen in Cúcuta
Brayan Ferney Claro Torres was brought before justice and was charged with aggravated homicide, use of minors to commit crimes; and manufacturing, trafficking, possession of firearms, accessories, parts or ammunition. The charges that were brought are related to the hitman attack that caused the death of social leader Fabio Alex Ortega Acero, on December 19, 2024, in Cúcuta (Norte de Santander).
Claro Torres was one of the men who allegedly attacked the victim, in an exchange of gunfire with his bodyguards.
Crime of social leader in Palmira
The Attorney General’s Office established that Álvaro Alex Garzón Gaviria, alias Jimmy or El Indio, an alleged member of the Adán Izquierdo structure of FARC dissidents allegedly participated in the murder of the peasant leader José Antonio Lozano Fuentes, on February 22, 2024, in the rural area of Palmira (Valle del Cauca).
Alias Jimmy or El Indio would be part of the armed group that intercepted the victim and shot a rifle when he tried to flee. In this sense, he was charged with aggravated homicide, conspiracy to commit a crime; and manufacturing, trafficking and possession of firearms or ammunition for restricted use, for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces or explosives. He did not plead guilty to the charges.
Alias Pollito was prosecuted
On May 9, 2023, in Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca), alleged members of the criminal organization ‘La Local’ attacked the social and cultural leader Johan Marcelo Montaño with firearms, causing his death.
One of the attackers would be Hanier Julián Suárez Torres, alias Kike or Pollito. Apparently, he attacked the victim and then he fled on a motorcycle. For these facts, he was charged with aggravated homicide; and manufacturing, trafficking, possession of firearms, accessories, parts or ammunition.
The Office of the Attorney General makes this information public for reasons of general interest.
The information contained in this press release corresponds to the narration of the objective news provided by the officials in charge of carrying out criminal investigations within the Office of the Attorney General. By the time this communication is disclosed, the legal status of the people mentioned is still pending to be resolved by the competent judicial authority, always under the presumption of innocence contemplated by Article 29 of the Political Constitution and Article 7 of Law 906 of 2004.