'The fooling around is over!': President De La Espriella led an operation in Barranquilla; 72 arrested and blows dealt to criminal gang leaders

News 587 police officers and military personnel were deployed, with 50 raids. Among those arrested are suspected leaders of extortion, hitman, and theft networks. President Abelardo De La Espriella supervised Operation Blindaje 360 in Barranquilla, which mobilized 587 police officers and military personnel. Photo: Screenshot JOURNALIST 16.10.2026 16:10 Updated: 16.10.2026 16:10 "The fooling around is over! To the criminals who believed they could sow terror in Barranquilla and its metropolitan area, we are showing them that with my Government they have nowhere to hide." READ ALSO With these words, published on his social media, President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the results of an offensive against the criminal gangs operating in Barranquilla and the municipalities of its metropolitan area, where disputes over control of extortion, micro-trafficking, and other illegal revenues have kept merchants and residents of various sectors under pressure. The president personally led Operation Blindaje 360, dubbed "No Truce with Crime," carried out in the early hours of this Friday, October 16, with the participation of 587 members of the National Police and the Army, in coordination with the Attorney General's Office. According to the official tally, the deployment resulted in 72 people captured, of whom 42 were arrested in flagrante delicto and another 30 by court orders. There were also 50 search and seizure operations, during which authorities seized 17 firearms, one grenade, more than six kilos of drugs, cash, cell phones, and two vehicles. BARRANQUILLA DOES NOT KNEEL BEFORE CRIME! The fooling around is over! To the criminals who believed they could sow terror in Barranquilla and its metropolitan area, we are showing them that with my Government they have nowhere to hide. Operation Blindaje 360, "No Truce with Crime," delivers forceful results: 72 captured, 50 raids, 17 firearms seized, one grenade, and more than 6 kilos of drugs off the streets! Among those captured are suspected leaders and members of structures such as Los Costeños, Los del Freseo, Los Porteños, Los Rápidos, and the Clan del Golfo. We are hitting their finances, their extortion networks, micro-trafficking, and the structures responsible for sowing fear among citizens. There is no truce here, and no leniency for crime! My recognition to our National Police, the Military Forces, and the Attorney General's Office for this coordinated work. To the people of Barranquilla I say: we will not rest until we restore peace to every neighborhood and return the streets to working families. You do the crime, you do the time! Firm for the Homeland! Long live Christ the King! (A. D. L. E.) 🇨🇴🐅 — Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) October 16, 2026 The intervention was directed against suspected members and leaders of organizations such as Los Costeños, Los del Freseo, Los Porteños, Los Rápidos, and the Clan del Golfo, structures accused of participating in crimes ranging from collecting extortion payments to homicides and disputes over territorial control. READ ALSO "We are hitting their finances, their extortion networks, micro-trafficking, and the structures responsible for sowing fear among citizens," said De La Espriella, who highlighted the joint work of the Public Force and the Attorney General's Office. The head of state added that operations will continue in the neighborhoods affected by crime. "There is no truce here, and no leniency for crime! My recognition to our National Police, the Military Forces, and the Attorney General's Office for this coordinated work. To the people of Barranquilla I say: we will not rest until we restore peace to every neighborhood and return the streets to working families," he stated. Alias 'Keko', accused of running extortion and hitman networks Among the results that authorities consider most significant is the capture of alias 'Keko' or 'Menor 08', identified as the second-in-command of Los del Freseo, one of the organizations under investigation for its alleged participation in homicides and extortions against merchants in Barranquilla and Soledad. President Abelardo De La Espriella supervised the deployment. Photo: Screenshot His arrest was made on charges of aggravated criminal conspiracy and aggravated extortion. According to police investigations, this man would have had a direct role in strengthening groups dedicated to hitman activities and would have recruited minors to join a structure known as Los Cachorros. One aspect that caught investigators' attention was the way he allegedly used social media and messaging services to intimidate his victims. According to the Police, alias 'Keko' would be behind the distribution of pamphlets and threatening audio messages sent via WhatsApp, in which he identified himself with names such as 'Comandante Menor', 'Comandante Sombra', 'Keko', and '08'. These threats, according to the investigation, would be related to the collection of extortion payments and disputes between criminal organizations seeking to control illegal revenues in various sectors of the metropolitan area. READ ALSO Authorities are also investigating his possible responsibility in homicides associated with clashes between gangs over control of micro-trafficking and other illicit businesses. These actions are part of the judicial investigations and must be established within the respective criminal proceedings. The capture takes on special importance given the pressure that extortions exert on neighborhood commerce, where shopkeepers and small business owners have reported threats, financial demands, and attacks on their establishments. Alias 'Ñoño', with 18 judicial records and 13 years of criminal history Another of the detainees identified by the Police is alias 'Ñoño', identified as the suspected leader of Los Rápidos, a structure under investigation for its participation in thefts from people, mainly through the robbery modality. According to the official report, this man has a criminal history of approximately 13 years and has 18 judicial records related to conduct such as theft, criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, simple kidnapping, and prison escape. In Barranquilla we are confronting crime with authority and results! Last night's operation, which resulted in 72 arrests, 50 raids, more than 15 weapons seized, and the deportation of a French citizen found with 1 kg of cocaine, was a forceful action against the leaders and criminal structures linked to homicides, extortions, and thefts. This is the first of many blows that our public force will continue to deliver, with the backing of President @ABDELAESPRIELLA, to restore peace of mind to the people of Barranquilla. Fear is no longer on the side of working people; fear has switched sides! My recognition to everyone who made Operation Blindaje 360: "No truce with crime" possible, the result of intelligence and investigative work by the @PoliciaBquilla, in coordination with the @FiscaliaCol. We will continue strengthening our Public Force, because the security and peace of mind of the people of Barranquilla is respected. When the State makes up its mind, it never loses! — Alejandro Char (@AlejandroChar) October 16, 2026 Investigators maintain that he allegedly participated in the planning and execution of robberies and maintained ties with other criminals dedicated to this activity. His capture is part of the offensive directed against organizations that, in addition to extortions and drug trafficking, obtain income through thefts and other criminal modalities. The Police reported that the items seized during the operations, including cell phones, money, and vehicles, will be analyzed to establish links between those captured, identify other people involved, and strengthen the investigations being carried out by the Attorney General's Office. Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. 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