3 narco-terrorists shot dead by public security forces in Colombia

Colombian public forces killed Cristian Camilo Chavarría Tapias, known by the aliases “Terry” or “Keiner,” a zone commander of the Clan del Golfo’s Edwin Román Velásquez Valle substructure, along with two other members of the group during a military operation in the rural area of Jericó, southwestern Antioquia, on October 2, 2026.

President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the operation on social media, posting a photo of the three bodies in body bags and stating: “Here is alias ‘Terry’ or ‘Keiner’ along with two more narcoterrorists, taken down by our Public Force. Welcome to the Miracle Homeland!” He earlier described the action as a “blow against narcoterrorism in Antioquia,” noting that the 29-year-old commander directed drug trafficking, extortion, and forced displacement in the municipalities of Betania, Hispania, Ciudad Bolívar, Jericó, and Andes.

According to the Seventh Division of the National Army and the Rapid Deployment Force No. 7, which conducted the joint operation with police, troops located a strategic point used by the group around 5 a.m. A firefight ensued after the suspects detected the forces, resulting in the three deaths. Authorities said Chavarría had roughly five years of criminal activity, initially conducting intelligence on security forces and communities before rising to a zone leadership role controlling illicit economies in the region.

He was also linked by officials to selective killings, including the alleged material authorship of the murder of futsal player and local sports figure Andrés Felipe Herrera Quiroz in Jardín, as well as internal clashes with other criminal groups over territorial control. Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón described the operation as removing a “nightmare” for residents of the southwest and congratulated the security forces.

The killing formed part of a broader 24-hour security balance reported by the president that included dozens of arrests, seizures of more than a ton of cocaine, disruption of drug laboratories, and actions against illegal mining. De La Espriella’s government, which took office in August 2026 on a hardline platform against armed groups, has emphasized aggressive operations against structures like the Clan del Golfo.

Security forces indicated they would continue offensive actions in the area to target remaining members of the substructure.