ELN sniper arrested after plotting attack against President De la Espriella in Ocaña
Colombia's National Police captured Dairo Ferizzola Rojas, alias Firu, in Ocaña on charges of plotting an attack against the Colombian president. The US issued an alert for drone attacks in Cesar.
Alias Firu, ELN sniper detained in Norte de Santander
Colombia's National Police captured Dairo Ferizzola Rojas, known as alias Firu or Firulais, on 4 September 2026 in Ocaña, Norte de Santander, a suspected member of the Camilo Torres Restrepo Front of the National Liberation Army (ELN). According to infobae.com, the detainee is accused of having participated in planning an attack against President Abelardo de la Espriella.
The operation was carried out by Intelligence units and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol (Dijín), as part of Operation Sparta. According to information released by the head of state, Ferizzola Rojas would be a specialist in sniper operations.
De la Espriella himself confirmed the capture via his X account: "Captured the ELN sniper who participated in planning an attack on my life! Intelligence information indicates that he would have been designated by the General Staff of the North-Eastern War Front to participate in planning and executing an armed action against me."
The president further stated that alias Firu is accused of the murder of three police officers in Río de Oro, Cesar, and of having participated in "operations involving snipers, explosive-laden drones and explosive devices against our security forces". Official information indicates that the detainee has an arrest warrant for aggravated homicide against a protected person and for trafficking and carrying firearms.
De la Espriella took the opportunity to send a direct message to the ELN: "I am not afraid of them. Threats against my life will not stop the state's offensive. On the contrary, they strengthen my determination to fight them until they submit to the rule of the Constitution and the law. Colombia does not kneel before terrorism."
US alert for drone attacks in Cesar
Meanwhile, the Government of the United States issued a security alert regarding the high risk of new attacks with explosive-laden drones in Cesar department, attributed primarily to the ELN. The State Department indicated that during 2026 there have been several attacks against police substations, military installations and security force positions, and warned that armed groups could carry out new operations with little or no warning.
The alert came days after the Colombian Government announced a shock plan to respond to these attacks and the deployment of anti-drone systems in several municipalities in the department. On 28 August an extraordinary security council meeting was held to strengthen the response to attacks attributed to illegal armed groups.
The Executive announced that it will install anti-drone protection systems in El Copey, Curumaní, La Jagua de Ibirico, Pelaya and Valledupar, and ordered strengthened protection of the oil pipeline and other strategic infrastructure in the region.
Among the incidents cited by US diplomacy is the July attack on the Police substation in El Burro, in the municipality of Pailitas, where five officers were wounded. In August, a drone incursion in areas of Curumaní and San Roque left one police officer dead. At the end of that same month, new attacks in southern Cesar wounded several soldiers.
According to the State Department alert, potential targets include government buildings, police stations and military units. US diplomacy recommended that American citizens exercise extreme caution near such installations, avoid crowds and follow information from local authorities and media. The warning also contemplates possible movement restrictions for US Government personnel in some zones of the department, depending on the security situation.
For those in Cesar, the State Department recommended maintaining a low profile, avoiding confrontations with armed individuals and keeping mobile phones charged to facilitate communication in any emergency.
Source: Google News CO — Crime