Colombian authorities have opened an investigation into the possible kidnapping of José Olger Melo Charry, a noncommissioned officer in the French Foreign Legion who holds both Colombian and French citizenship. Melo Charry, originally from the city of Pasto in Nariño department, is believed to have been abducted in a rural area of Cumbitara, a small municipality in that same southwestern region near the border with Ecuador.
The French Foreign Legion is an elite branch of the French Army historically made up largely of foreign-born volunteers, known for deploying to conflict zones around the world. Melo Charry’s dual nationality and military background have drawn added attention to a case that, for now, remains under investigation, with few confirmed details released publicly.
According to preliminary information, the abduction is being attributed to members of an armed structure known as “Franco Benavides,” which reportedly operates in that part of Nariño, a department long affected by the presence of illegal armed groups involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activity along Colombia’s Pacific corridor.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive behind the alleged kidnapping or the current whereabouts of Melo Charry. The case is under active investigation, and officials are expected to release further details as the situation develops.
To read the full original report in Spanish, visit El Tiempo.
Image: safty_searcher, BY-ND 2.0 (via Openverse).