Colombia’s armed forces said Tuesday it had killed four FARC rebels in combat with the Colombian army in the southern Putumayo department. Additionally, two rebels were captured and another three surrendered.
The combat between the army’s Sixth Division and the “Public Order Commission” of the FARC’s 48th Front took place in the Puerto Leguizamo municipality near the Ecuadorean border on Monday.
After the combat, the Sixth Division seized six rifles, a pistol, a radio and “an abundance of ammunition” from the rebels.
The 48th Front, led by Gustavo Cuellar Pajoy, alias “Manuel el Politico,” is one of the FARC’s richest and militarily most active fronts. The army said the front is charged with trafficking drugs across the Ecuadorean border and is responsible for supplying arms, ammunition and explosives for other units of the FARC’s Southern Bloc.
PROFILE: Joaquin Gomez
The 48th Front is frequently held responsible for attacks against the Putumayo department’s oil infrastructure, in particular the Transandino pipeline.
Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo
Sources
- Cuatro guerrilleros de las Farc mueren en enfrentamientos en el Putumayo (W Radio)
- Mueren cuatro guerrilleros de las FARC en combates con el Ejército (Europa Press)
