Major security operation in Palmira results in 32 arrests, weapons and thousands of drug doses seized
Over 500 uniformed officers participated in an operation in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, which resulted in 32 arrests and the seizure of seven weapons and more than 5,400 doses of narcotics.
Second major security operation in Palmira strikes drug dealing, extortion and hired killing networks
Over 500 members of the National Army and National Police deployed the second major security operation in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, with support from the Office of the Attorney General and Colombia's Migration Authority. According to infobae.com, the operations focused on communes 1, 5 and 7, where raids were conducted, background checks carried out and actions taken against organisations accused of threatening the municipality's security.
The balance sheet provided by the Valle del Cauca Gobernación indicated that 28 of the 32 arrests occurred whilst the offenders were in flagrante delicto and four were carried out pursuant to court orders. The authorities seized seven firearms, 5,448 doses of narcotics—including cannabis, cocaine, bazuco and synthetic drugs—as well as telecommunications equipment that will be subject to verification as part of the investigations. Also seized were 1,128 grammes of synthetic drugs and over four kilograms of various illegal substances.
Brother of Los 300 gang leader detained in Villa Diana
One of the most significant operations took place in the Villa Diana neighbourhood, where a man known as alias Cristian was detained—the brother of alias Morocho, identified by authorities as the principal leader of the Los 300 gang. The man was found in possession of a .38 calibre revolver and two cartridges. The Gobernación stated that his capture affects the inner circle of the organisation's leader, which operates in several sectors of commune 1 of Palmira.
Luis Orlando Mosquera Llanos, known as "Morocho", had been arrested on 24 June 2026 in the Harold Éder neighbourhood in an operation by the Unified Action Group for Personal Freedom (Gaula), the Special Operations Group (Goes) and the National Police, as part of what was called Operation Hunter. The authorities are investigating him for murder, aggravated extortion, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking offences, forced displacement, qualified theft and threats. A judge ordered his detention in a correctional facility following preliminary hearings.
According to the authorities, Los 300 maintained influence over drug dealing and extortion collections in neighbourhoods such as Harold Éder, Villa Diana, Bosques del Edén, Reservas de Zamorano, Zamorano, Alameda and Amaime. Shopkeepers reportedly received demands of up to 20 million pesos under threats against their businesses or physical integrity.
Sister of alias Salchi linked to extortion and homicides
The major operation also resulted in the arrest of alias Estefanía, sister of a man known as alias Salchi, whom the Police link to drug dealing networks, extortion and selective killings in Palmira. According to the Gobernación, "Estefanía" played an active role in the manufacture and sale of narcotics, and investigations also connect her to extortion and murders in areas under the influence of that criminal network.
The authorities indicate that "Salchi" coordinated illegal activities through groups known as Los Esparta, Los Leyenda and Los Chacha. These factions, according to the official report, shared urban corridors for drug sales and employed hired killers to maintain territorial control.
Femicide, thefts and operations at the prison
Among those detained is alias Ete, accused by the authorities of driving criminal activity in the San Pedro neighbourhood. He was arrested shortly after a theft at a commercial establishment; during that operation, police recovered 835,000 pesos and found an air pistol that, according to the report, had allegedly been used to intimidate victims.
Also arrested was Jerson Larrahondo, accused of participating in a femicide that occurred on 17 May 2026 in the municipality of Candelaria.
The offensive extended to the Palmira High and Medium Security Prison and Penitentiary, where the Gaula police unit for Valle and the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Inpec) conducted inspections to detect items intended for illegal activities from within the prison. In total, 14 search and raid operations were carried out, and two motorcycles and one vehicle reported as stolen were recovered.
77 per cent reduction in homicides during October
The governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Francisca Toro, highlighted the arrests of the two relatives of the gang leaders and stated that the interventions aim to weaken the networks operating in Palmira. "In the midst of reconstruction, crime does not sleep, but neither do we and we continue to fight it decisively," Toro said when presenting the balance of the operation.
The official indicated that homicides in Palmira fell by 11 per cent in 2026 and that the reduction during October was 77 per cent, according to official figures. Mayor Víctor Ramos stated that the municipality has 545 surveillance cameras, including 50 with facial recognition and 25 for number plate identification, tools which, he said, strengthen the authorities' response capacity.
The operation also included five prevention campaigns that reached 486 people. At the checkpoints, uniformed officers verified the backgrounds of 1,889 citizens and 724 vehicles, and issued 263 tickets for conduct contrary to coexistence and 74 for traffic violations.
Source: Google News CO — Crime