In an Army operation, alias Totoró, the leader of a unit within the Carlos Patiño Structure in El Tambo, Cauca, was neutralized

During the ongoing offensive led by Rapid Deployment Force No. 4—an organic military unit of the National Army’s Third Division—in the Micay Canyon, troops neutralized alias Totoró, a cell leader of the Carlos Patiño Residual Structure, during a military operation.

Thanks to military intelligence efforts, it was determined that this strategic sector was being used by members of that group—operating under the command of alias Iván Mordisco—to plan and carry out terrorist acts against the security forces. It was also being used as a transit corridor for activities related to drug trafficking and the supply of weapons and explosives.

Alias Totoró had assumed command of this commission after the National Army neutralized the previous leader operating in the area several months earlier. Under his leadership, coercive actions against the residents of Huisitó and La Emboscada reportedly intensified, with residents being manipulated to instigate riots against the security forces.

His criminal activities also led him to restrict the community’s access to the local school and sports center, transforming these spaces—intended for the well-being of children and adolescents—into camps and sites of confrontation by installing improvised explosive devices, constituting a flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.

The military operation, carried out with the support of the Colombian Aerospace Force, also led to the dismantling of the camp where this ringleader was staying. Two rifles, a large quantity of ammunition and magazines, as well as more than 150 explosive devices, 12 drone-mounted grenades, 200 antipersonnel mines, 400 meters of detonating cord, 57 uniforms for the exclusive use of the Military Forces, and various logistical items used by members of this residual structure were found at the site. All the material was turned over to the competent authorities for the appropriate procedures and subsequent destruction.

Currently, troops are conducting a thorough inspection of the area to ensure the necessary security conditions so that the population can reclaim and once again use these community spaces for the benefit of the region’s children and youth.

The National Army continues to carry out military operations in fulfillment of its constitutional mission through joint, coordinated, and interagency efforts, with the aim of weakening the capabilities of organized armed groups and protecting the communities that inhabit this important region of the country.