Colombia authorities seize weapons in separate operations

Authorities in Colombia are investigating two separate incidents involving the seizure of high-caliber weaponry.

In Puerto Boyacá, an arsenal including six 5.56 caliber rifles, sniper scopes, and over 3,000 cartridges was discovered at the Los Alpes estate. The property is owned by Agroalpes S.A.S., a company whose financial operations are under scrutiny by the Prosecutor's Office. Investigators are examining whether the company served as a legal vehicle to manage assets linked to alleged drug trafficker Andrés Mauricio Vélez Hernández, also known as ‘Fortuna’. The investigation highlights suspicious real estate transactions and bank movements exceeding $16 billion pesos between 2019 and 2022. Authorities are exploring a hypothesis that the weapons found may be linked to a potential assassination attempt against former President Gustavo Petro.

In Cúcuta, security forces conducted a raid in the El Callejón neighborhood, resulting in the arrest of a man and a woman suspected of being members of the Eln guerrilla group. During the operation, which involved the Army, Police, and Air Force, two high-precision Colt rifles were seized. The suspects were handed over to the Prosecutor's Office to face charges related to the manufacture, trafficking, and possession of firearms and ammunition.