To deliver congratulations, the President made a last-minute visit to police headquarters, accompanied by the Director of that institution, General Oscar Naranjo, and the Commander of the Armed Forces, General Freddy Padilla de Leon.  There he asked soldiers, police agents, and marine infantry to continue ahead in the struggle for the peace of future generations of Colombians. 

Bogotá, April 7 (SP).  As a gesture of gratitude toward the members of the National Security Forces for the most recent operational results against drug trafficking and criminal groups, President Alvaro Uribe Velez made a sudden visit this Monday to police headquarters, where he invited all the policemen and soldiers to continue working to gain the country’s confidence.

“Today you have responsibilities that are beyond public order.  Your heroic task is to let investment reach Colombia, to have Colombians invest, and for the economy to prosper to create good jobs for our countrymen, so that this nation can overcome poverty,” said the President. 

Uribe’s visit to police headquarters came as a result of the most recent successful operations by the National Security Forces against drug trafficking and criminal groups, especially the confiscation of 148 rifles in Arbolotes (in Antioquian Urabá). 

“How good that all these weapons have been confiscated that, according to the information, were headed for the terrorist criminal group led by the person known by the alias ‘Don Mario.’  How great the captures you have made!  How good that police intelligence can make these extraordinary advances in the fight against terrorism,” stated the President. 

Other successful operations

He also highlighted the capture this Monday of the murderer of the two teachers (union members) who were killed the week before in the Department of Putumayo.  The capture was achieved based on the response by the police, who offered a reward of 5 million pesos when they learned of the crime. 

Another important result achieved by the National Police was the rescue, safe and sound, of physician Jorge Lemus, who had been kidnapped during Easter Week by the 41st Front of the FARC, while he was traveling with his family in Ocaña, Norte de Santander. 

The Police also captured Orlando Villa in Doradal, Magdalena Medio, known by the alias of ‘La Mona’, accused by the authorities of being the number two man in the organization of ‘Los mellizos’ (the twins). 

According to the police, Villa has seven pending orders for his arrest and one 25-year prison sentence to serve for having participated in a massacre when he was part of a paramilitary group before the peace process. 

Finally, Uribe Vélez highlighted the Navy’s operation to the south of Buenaventura that took down alias “El Indio,” the number two FARC guerrilla leader in that region of the Colombian Pacific.