Colombian army sergeant arrested for providing weapons, intelligence to FARC

(Photo: Colombian military)

Colombia’s military on Wednesday said it had arrested an army sergeant and three alleged members of the FARC for funneling military arms and intelligence to the country’s largest guerrilla group.

The arrested army sergeant was a military instructor in the southern Caqueta state where he was arrested, reported radio station Caracol.

According to the charges, the military instructor and his fellow conspirators stole weapons and military intelligence from the army’s 6th Division.

The weapons and intelligence were then passed on to the Teofilo Romero column, one of the FARC’s most elite fighters units that frequently carried out attacks against colleagues of the arrested sergeant until the FARC’s ongoing unilateral ceasefire took force in December.

While arresting the suspects, the military found more than 50 grenades and mortars, army helmets and $2,500 worth of Colombian bills.

The four suspects will be tried for arms trafficking, the illegal carrying of firearms of use restricted to the military, and conspiracy.

Caqueta has been one of the states most affected by the 50-year old armed conflict between the FARC and the state.

The rebel group began peace talks with the administration in November 2012 and has been upholding a unilateral ceasefire since December 20.

Members of Colombia’s military will be traveling to the negotiation table in Havana, Cuba next week to negotiate a possible bilateral ceasefire for the duration of the talks.

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