Twelve alleged FARC guerrillas accused of coordinating the the kidnapping of 12 Valle del Cauca state legislators in 2002 were captured this week, W Radio reports.
On April 11, 2002, FARC guerrillas dressed as soldiers kidnapped 12 Valle del Cauca state legislators. Eleven of the 12 hostages were killed while in captivity, and one was released in 2009.
Authorities captured the guerrillas in an operations that were carried out between Monday and Tuesday of this week and covered the cities of Cali, Buenaventura, Popayan, Pasto, Barranquilla, Valledupar, and the towns of El Charco (Nariño) and Guapi (Cauca).
The captured guerrillas are allegedly part of the logistics network of the FARC’s 29th Front, and authorities claim that they have captured Urrego Montoya, alias “Chirrete,” the leader of the network. Authorities also claim they have captured Ciro Antonio Escalante Jaimes, who was part of the group responsible for guarding the hostages.