The Attorney General’s Office brought nine individuals to justice for allegedly extorting merchants in Cúcuta (Norte de Santander). The defendants were arrested on April 30, while receiving money they allegedly demanded from a citizen.

The people involved are: Michael Yuseth Durán López, Yhon José Martínez Gómez, kerwill Raúl López Farias, José Antonio Arenas Riera, Pedro Jesús Aular Mare, Moisés Alejandro Zarraga Mújica, Carlos Rafael Molina Bocour, Fran Yoneyker Natera Espinoza and Rafael Anderson Istúriz Mejarez.

In a proceeding conducted by Gaula of Metropolitan Police in Cúcuta, in coordination with Gaula, a fragmentation grenade, a revolver, 29 cartridges (7.62 mm caliber), three cartridges (38 mm caliber), narcotics, balaclavas, and 21 pamphlets referring to the AK-47 criminal group, were seized.

For these acts, a prosecutor charged them with extortion; manufacturing, trafficking, or possession of firearms, accessories, parts, or ammunition; manufacturing, trafficking, and possession of weapons, ammunition for restricted use, ammunition for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces, or explosives; and trafficking, manufacturing, or possession of narcotics.

None of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, and a judge sentenced them to prison.

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.