Police recapture alias ‘Galón’ in Barrancabermeja

Colombian authorities have recaptured Duvier Asned Balaguera Zapata, known as alias ‘Galón’, in the Nuevo Horizonte neighborhood of Barrancabermeja. The operation, conducted by the Gaula police unit, utilized drones, specialized tracking dogs, and a large deployment of officers to locate the suspect.

Balaguera Zapata had escaped from a police station in the Muelle sector on September 7, 2026, while serving a period of judicial detention. His escape had previously triggered alerts as he was featured on Santander's most wanted list. Following his recapture, internal investigations have been launched to determine how he managed to evade custody from the police facility.

The suspect is linked to investigations involving extortion against merchants, entrepreneurs, and ranchers in the Magdalena Medio region, specifically in Barrancabermeja and Sabana de Torres. Authorities allege he posed as a member of the ‘Los Búcaros’ criminal group, using videos featuring firearms and grenades to intimidate victims and demand money. He was originally captured in June during an operation in Floridablanca, where weapons and explosives were seized.