Police arrest 30 people in 17 simultaneous raids in Bogotá
Bogotá Metropolitan Police arrested 30 people and seized weapons, drugs and more than 50 million pesos in cash during operations in six districts.
Thirty detained and 17 raids in operations against drug micro-trafficking in the capital
Bogotá Metropolitan Police arrested 30 people after executing 17 simultaneous raids in six districts of the Colombian capital, cablenoticias.com reported. The procedures, carried out in coordination with the Attorney General's Office, also resulted in the seizure of firearms, narcotics and approximately 50 million pesos in cash.
Brigadier General Giovanni Cristancho, commander of the Metropolitan Police, confirmed that the operations allowed the dismantling of networks engaged in drug micro-trafficking, homicide and theft in Fontibón, Kennedy, Ciudad Bolívar, San Cristóbal and Puente Aranda.
Nine kilogrammes of cocaine near El Dorado airport
One of the most significant findings occurred in a residence located near El Dorado International Airport, in Fontibón district. There, officers found nine kilogrammes of high-purity cocaine hydrochloride.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the property functioned as a temporary storage centre for substances to be sent via international routes.
"One of the most significant cases is the discovery, within a residence near El Dorado airport, of nine kilos of cocaine. The property would be used to store drugs and subsequently send them abroad," said Brigadier General Cristancho.
Arrest of alias 'El Negro Alex' in Ciudad Bolívar
In the Sierra Morena and Mochuelo neighbourhoods, belonging to Ciudad Bolívar district, DIJÍN units arrested a man known as 'El Negro Alex', accused of being part of a criminal structure engaged in extortion and small-scale drug dealing in southern Bogotá.
During a search of his residence, agents seized more than 700 grammes of narcotics, a modified non-lethal weapon, two mobile phones and 47 million pesos in cash, a sum that would correspond to illicit proceeds of the organisation.
Seven people with active arrest warrants
The DIJÍN's investigative work also allowed the detention of seven people who had arrest warrants issued by judges of the Republic in San Cristóbal and Kennedy districts.
"Seven people required to serve sentences for the crimes of aggravated homicide and theft were arrested. One of the detainees was one of the most wanted for violent robbery in the capital and had six previous convictions for this same criminal conduct," Cristancho noted.
Bazuco hidden in cooler with false bottom
In an additional operation carried out at road access points on the outskirts of the city, authorities intercepted a person travelling in a public transport vehicle from Putumayo department. During the search, officers found approximately two kilogrammes of bazuco hidden inside a plastic cooler with a false-bottom system.
Closure of establishment in Puente Aranda for food adulteration
In Puente Aranda district, two people were arrested for the crime of food adulteration. Authorities proceeded to seal a commercial establishment that violated minimum standards of sanitation and public health, and seized a large batch of irregular supplements and medicines.
Arrests and evidence material available to authorities
In the course of the operations, the National Police reported the seizure of firearms, non-lethal weapons, ammunition of various calibres, equipment and approximately 50 million pesos in cash.
The 30 arrested individuals, along with seized items and evidentiary material collected, were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities for the legalisation of arrests and the filing of corresponding charges.
The Metropolitan Police indicated that it will maintain intervention in sectors with the highest crime criticality, with the aim of dismantling the financial and logistical links of drug micro-trafficking gangs operating in the various districts of the Capital.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá