In Colombia they apprehend alleged FARC dissidents who extorted Ecuadorians

Ipiales, COLOMBIA

In the border community El Placer Bajo, in the rural area of ​​Ipiales (Colombia), eleven individuals of that nationality who posed as alleged dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were apprehended to commit crimes.

The arrests were registered on one of the roads that connect Colombia with Ecuador. The subjects wore garments exclusive to that irregular grouping. When they noticed the presence of police officers they tried to flee, but were surrounded and captured.

Neighbors of that community denounced that these subjects intimidated Ecuadorians who use the border crossings to advance towards Ipiales. The individuals wore military clothing and carried long- and short-range weapons to intimidate people.

Two people are captured for the alleged crime of human trafficking on the border between Ecuador and Colombia

These people posed as members of the FARC dissidents and had been extorting Ecuadorian citizens, pretending to have sums of between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars to generate scams and damages, the Colombian investigators indicated.

At the time of being apprehended, they carried two traumatic weapons, a blank weapon, military garments and three vests carrying suppliers.

Wilson Siza, Nariño Police Commander, indicated that photocopies of foreign currency were also seized in the operation and that the individuals apprehended would be part of a common organized criminal group.

The Special Operations Group (GOE) added that the eleven subjects are accused of the crimes of conspiracy to commit a crime and use of uniforms and insignia of the Armed Forces. Nine accepted the charges, while two were released after the decision of the Control and Guarantees judge. (I)