Tulande, the man responsible for illegal mining in The Farallones and one of the most wanted individuals for environmental crimes in Cauca and Valle, has been captured

One of the alleged masterminds behind the devastation of Farallones de Cali National Natural Park through illegal mining and the contamination of natural ecosystems in Valle and Cauca was captured in recent hours by troops from Rapid Deployment Force No. 5 of the Third Division in Suárez, a municipality in northern Cauca.

This individual, known by the alias Tulande, was captured following the deployment of offensive and intelligence operations in response to an arrest warrant issued against him. Investigations revealed that he was also a member of the support networks of the Jaime Martínez residual group, which operates along the border between the two departments.

According to these investigations, illicit proceeds derived from the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits directly fueled the criminal group’s finances through extortion and the violent territorial control exercised in the region.

Due to the severe ecological impact and the damage to water sources and biodiversity in southwestern Colombia, alias Tulande was on the list of the country’s eight most-wanted criminals for environmental crimes, for which a reward of 100 million pesos was offered.

This individual was handed over to the appropriate authorities and will face charges of criminal conspiracy, trespassing on areas of special ecological importance, damage to natural resources, and ecocide, among other environmental offenses.
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This outcome represents a strategic blow to the illicit finances that criminal organizations obtain through the illegal extraction of minerals, an activity that destroys regional biodiversity. In this way, the National Army reaffirms its commitment to environmental preservation and the security of communities in southwestern Colombia.