Colombia’s National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences has publicly condemned the circulation on social media of graphic images purporting to show the body of Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, better known by his alias “Bendito Menor,” a leader of the criminal group known as “los Pachenca.” The agency insisted that no photographs were taken at its facilities, despite claims online suggesting otherwise.
Pérez Toncel was killed last week during a highly coordinated police operation in Riohacha, the capital of Colombia’s La Guajira department on the Caribbean coast. The raid, which reportedly took days to plan and involved support from US intelligence units, also resulted in the deaths of three other alleged associates known as “la Bebecita,” “Casi Loco,” and “el Tío.” Their bodies were subsequently transported to forensic facilities for identification.
In a statement, the institute—led by director Ariel Emilio Cortés—said it “categorically rejects the distribution and exposure of images of deceased persons,” arguing that such practices violate human dignity, infringe on victims’ privacy, and inflict further pain on grieving families. The agency stressed that it operates under strict technical, ethical, and confidentiality protocols to protect both the bodies in its custody and sensitive forensic information.
Officials urged both the public and media outlets to refrain from sharing such sensitive material, emphasizing that respect for the dead must take priority even in high-profile criminal cases.
Read the full original report at El Tiempo for more details on the investigation.
Source: Medicina Legal rechaza la difusión de imágenes del cuerpo de 'Bendito Menor', abatido en operativo de la Policía (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Tony Webster.