'Gay Cousin was such a bandit that he switched from the dissidents to the Gulf Clan; may they all keep falling one by one': Medellín's mayor celebrates the capture

News'Primo Gay' Captured. Photo: Government of AntioquiaJOURNALIST14.11.2026 14:41 Updated: 14.11.2026 14:54 In a joint operation between the National Army, the Police, and the Attorney General's Office, Néider Yesid Uñates López, known in the criminal world under the alias Primo Gay, was captured in northern Antioquia. READ ALSO Primo Gay Captured, leader in Antioquia. Photo:Governor of AntioquiaThe detainee is accused of leading terrorist attacks in Medellín, extorting companies, and having participated in the murder of journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda. READ ALSO After the operation was confirmed —carried out in the Santa Ana village of Briceño, in the Llanos de Cuivá sector— the mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, the governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, and the President of the Republic, Abelardo De La Espriella, held a telephone conversation to coordinate follow-up actions and highlight the blow against criminality.Alias Primo Gay after his capture. Photo: courtesyThe statements of Mayor Federico GutiérrezThe district leader celebrated the capture through a video on his social media, where he gave details of the detainee's criminal record and extended broad recognition to the institutions that participated in the operation. READ ALSO The capture of alias Primo Gay took place in Briceño, Antioquia. Photo: courtesy"Alias Primo Gay has fallen, one of the worst criminals in Antioquia and Colombia. We have just held a telephone conversation with President Abelardo De La Espriella and with Governor Andrés Julián Rendón. Congratulations to the National Government, congratulations to the Attorney General's Office, to the CTI, to the organized crime team, congratulations to our Army, our Police, and everyone who took part in this operation," said Gutiérrez.Alias Primo Gay next to 'Arboleda' while the latter operates a drone. Photo: Provided.The mayor also referred to the detainee's criminal trajectory within the illegal armed structures in the department and specified the place of his detention."Alias Primo Gay was one of those closest to Calarcá at the time in the Farc's '36' front, and he is such a criminal that he switched over to the 'clan del Golfo'. He has fallen, he fell in Llanos de Cuivá!" the mayor pointed out. READ ALSO When detailing the crimes for which he was wanted in the Antioquian capital, Gutiérrez directly linked the detainee to recent acts of violence against public infrastructure and the press.Alias Primo Gay reportedly moved from the Farc dissidents to the 'clan del Golfo'. Photo: Courtesy Colprensa | EL TIEMPO"It's important: this was the one responsible for the terrorist attacks in Medellín against the energy towers, a terrorist cell that was also recently dismantled. This guy was also responsible for the extortions of Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) and other entities. He was also responsible for the murder of journalist Mateo Pérez, which we all remember," said the mayor. READ ALSO The reward for alias Primo Gay increased to 640 million pesos. Photo: Provided.Finally, the mayor emphasized the need to maintain the offensive against armed groups and questioned the room for maneuver these organizations had in the past. "May they all fall one by one. He will be presented in the coming hours by the president. There we are, may the blows against criminality keep coming; the country must be fully recovered — what protection they had in previous years. May all these criminals fall, congratulations. We are going head-on against all these people," concluded Mayor Gutiérrez. READ ALSO Extradition request and departmental supportThe Governor of Antioquia. Photo: Government of Antioquia.For his part, the governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, highlighted the intelligence work, the institutional coordination, and the joint action of the Public Force and the justice system to neutralize the man he described as "one of the most bloodthirsty criminals to have ever committed crimes in the department," after highlighting what he called a "millimetric operation of intelligence, sagacity, and bravery." READ Likewise, the departmental leader made a formal request to the Government of the United States to evaluate a possible extradition request against Uñates López. READ The request is based on his alleged participation in the attack on a Black Hawk helicopter —an aircraft of U.S. ownership— that occurred on August 21, 2025, in the Los Toros village of Amalfi, an attack using a landmine in which 13 police officers were killed, as well as his responsibility in the crime of the 25-year-old communicator Mateo Pérez Rueda, director of the outlet El Confidente de Yarumal, who was kidnapped and murdered in May 2026 while covering the conflict in a rural area of Briceño.CAROLINA BOHÓRQUEZEL TIEMPO CorrespondentSee more newsCrisis at the Bogotá airport. Photo: Follow all the information from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERSSign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed with what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWSFollow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Always stay up to date with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. 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