Colombian authorities have confirmed they will honor a reward of 1,000 million pesos—about $240,000 (USD)—offered for information leading to the capture of Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, better known by his alias “Bendito Menor.” He was identified as the top commander of the “Javier Cáceres” subgroup within the Autodefensas Conquistadores de la Sierra, a paramilitary-linked criminal organization operating in northern Colombia.
The announcement came after security forces killed Pérez Toncel early Friday, September 4, during a raid in Riohacha, the capital of La Guajira department on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. The operation, dubbed “Centinela de la Patria” (“Sentinel of the Homeland”), also left three other members of the group dead. More than 30 officers from the Dijín, Colombia’s judicial and investigative police unit, took part in the raid, which officials say was made possible thanks to a tip from a human informant who helped pinpoint the leader’s location.
Pérez Toncel had five outstanding arrest warrants in Colombia and was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice—an international alert requesting his arrest—for alleged crimes including homicide, kidnapping and extortion. Local reports indicate his partner, known as “La Bebecita,” also died during the operation, though further details have not yet been released.
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Source: ¿Qué pasará con la recompensa de $ 1.000 millones por 'Bendito Menor'? Una fuente humana habría ayudado a ubicarlo (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: National Police of Colombia.