An alleged ringleader of the FARC’s 5th Front died, four members demobilized, and three were captured in a face off with the Colombian Army in the northwest of the country, according to Colombian media on Tuesday.
Ramiro Antonio Montoya Moreno, alias “Ramirito,” suspected leader and explosives specialist, was killed in the village of La Cristalina, part of the municipality of Apartado, in the region of Uraba, Antioquia.
The commander of the Colombian Army’s 7th Division, General Hernan Giraldo, said that Ramirito was 28 years old, and had been with the FARC for 12 years. He was allegedly in charge of communications, provision of food and war materials, as well as making and setting landmines.
Giraldo also added that Ramirito had been patrolling the rural area of San Jose de Apartado and recruiting youth for the FARC.
According to Giraldo, Ramirito and alias “Duqueiro,” who was captured in the municipality of El Bagre, had both participated in the killing of two policemen on the road in Apartado that leads to San Jose de Apartado.
Ramirito was captured once before in 2006, and sentenced to two years in prison, but after obtaining his freedom had continued collaborating with the FARC’s 5th Front, where he rose to leader.
Those captured included alias “Paso Lento,” “Icotea,” and “Jefferson.” Police also seized two AK-47 rifles, one M-16, nine vendors, three jackets, and three teams of campaign materials and explosives. Authorities believe that the weapons would have been used to carry out attacks during the regional elections last sunday.
General Juan Bautista Pepes Bedoya said that “we worked hard to guarantee the security of democracy, without letting down our guard in the development of offensive operations.”
Army troops also accepted the demobilization and powerful weaponry from alias “Yuber,” who had worked with the FARC for 15 years, 20-year FARC veteran alias “El Gordo,” and alias “Enrique,” who had belonged to the group for 21 years.
