A 21-year-old man was captured in the town of Kennedy, southwest of Bogotá, when he tried to collect money from extortion from a merchant who owned an establishment selling meat products. The arrest was carried out under the comprehensive security strategy Bogotá Walk Safely, in an operation in the Palenque neighborhood.
During the capture, a fragmentation grenade, threatening pamphlets and a cell phone were seized from the person, elements that he used to intimidate merchants. According to the authorities, the detainee made videos both inside and on the facades of the businesses, collecting personal information that he then sent via WhatsApp to demand money from his victims.
Lieutenant Colonel Ángel Torres, commander of the Bogotá Police Gaula, indicated that the capture was possible thanks to the quick reaction of the uniformed officers and the complaints filed by the affected merchants, who had been threatened and forced to hand over sums of money to protect their integrity.
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The Attorney General’s Office charged the detainee with the crimes of extortion, possession of weapons, ammunition or explosives for the exclusive use of the Military Forces. He is currently under restraint in a prison while the investigations progress.
The authorities are also investigating whether the man is part of a criminal group linked to the homicide of a young man that occurred on December 23 in the town of Bosa.
The Police recalled the importance of reporting any criminal act or act that threatens citizen coexistence through Emergency Line 123, pointing out that citizen collaboration is key to strengthening the fight against crime in Bogotá.