The authorities They offer a reward of up to five million pesos for information that allows the recapture of the 41 detainees who escaped in the early morning of this Monday October 12 of a Protection Transfer Center (CTP) in Saint Martha.
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The National Police released the faces and the names of the escaped ones, who They were arrested for theft, micro-trafficking and other crimes.
Among them there are two who, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella, require priority attention. The first is alias ‘Mongolo’marked as belonging to the Conquering Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN)the illegal armed group with a presence in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
CHANGES IN THE SANTA MARTA POLICE I do not accept in the Public Force those who lack the courage and determination to confront crime and excesses accordingly. In this Government, cowardice has no place. Police Colonel Yeison López will be called to rate services for his responsibility in the escape of 41 detainees for theft, micro-trafficking and other crimes from the Protection Transfer Center; for not reporting these events in a timely manner and for not taking the corresponding measures regarding yesterday’s blockade of the Santa Marta-Barranquilla highway, near Tasajera. I ask the community for peace of mind: these are not highly dangerous criminals. We are deploying all capabilities to locate and recapture them. Colonel Urriago, second in command, will temporarily assume command. This week Colonel Jimmy Belalcázar will arrive as the new commander. Santa Marta needs leadership, character and judgment. Sign for the country! Long live Christ the King! (ADLE) 🇨🇴 🐅
— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) October 12, 2026
According to the president, He had recently been captured in Guachacaa rural district of Santa Marta, with a firearm.
The second is alias ‘Guajiro’ or ‘Johan’to whom the president linked to the murder of a police officer during an alleged theft October 31 of last year in Ciénaga, Magdalena.
‘Cowardice has no place’
The escape cost him his job to the commander of the Santa Marta Police, Colonel Jeyson Harid López Puerto. The president announced on his X account that will be called to rate services for his responsibility in the evasion, for not reporting in time about what happened and for not taking measures against the blockade that occurred on Sunday on the Santa Marta-Barranquilla road, near Tasajera.
The commander of the Santa Marta Police, Colonel Jeyson Harid López Puerto. Photo:Social networks
“I do not accept into the Public Force those who lack the courage and determination to confront crime and excesses appropriately. In this Government, cowardice has no place,” wrote De la Espriella.
The president asked the Samarians for calm. “I ask the community for peace of mind: these are not highly dangerous criminals. We are deploying all capabilities to locate and recapture them,” he added.
While the replacement arrives, the command remains in the hands of the colonel Olmer Urriagosecond in command. The president announced that this week Colonel Jimmy Belalcázar will arrive as new commander. “Santa Marta needs leadership, character and judgment,” he said.
Protest in another detention center
In the same morning a protest was reported of people deprived of liberty in the South Transitional Detention Centerat the entrance to the Santa Ana neighborhood. Screams were heard, there was burning of items inside the facilities and attempts by some inmates to overcome the controls were reported. The Mobile Anti-Riot Squad had to intervene.
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According to reports, inmates complained about the quality of the foodthe delays in their court hearings and release orders that, they claim, have not been made effective. The authorities They have not provided an official balance sheet of what happened nor have they clarified whether this fact is related to the escape.
Previous leaks
It is not the first massive escape of the year in Santa Marta. In March, 34 inmates escaped from the Transitional Center of North Detention, known as ‘La Norte’.
There was tension in the area due to the riot that generated a lack of control in the south detention center. Photo:Social networks
In that event, inmate Keiner Almanzo, prosecuted for the murder of businessman Fernando Melo in October 2025, died, and three inmates and three police officers were injured with firearms.
Mayor Carlos Pinedo then asked for support to the national government and Inpec to evaluate the transfer of the center and reinforce security.
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In June another leak was reportedof 25 inmates, from a temporary detention center near the city’s Transportation Terminal. In that case too a reward was offered of up to five million pesos.
This is the list of the 41 fugitives from Santa Marta
Forty fugitives from Santa Marta Photo:Santa Marta Mayor’s Office
Left photo
- Andrés Camilo De Horta Bolaño
- Henry Gomez Llanes
- Robert Alexis Mejía Trin
- Hugo Rafael Sarmiento Vergara
- Jean José Criston Ospino
- Brayan Alberto Miranda Cantillo
- Deider Enrique del Portillo Fragoso
- Juan Mauricio Mendoza García
- Jean Carlos Elías Durán
- Victor Manuel Suarez Cabaña
- Jaider Sahid Alexander Mantilla
- Michael Denilson Tarazona Joya
- Juan Camilo Caballero Ortiz
- Saucedo Suárez Steban Samir
- Ruben Alirio Cervantes Guerra
- Yesneider Contreras Ochoa
- Jefferson David Andrade Níñez
- Samuel David Herrera Vega
- Nelson David Ochoa Martínez
- Mario Alejandro Méndez Agamez
- Yerizon Rafael Delgado Isaac
Right photo
- Víctor Alfonso Neck Ring
- Edilberto Elías Duque Quintero
- Wilfrido Acevedo Fuenmayor
- Ruben Daniel Flores Mejía
- Danny Yonatan Jiménez Durán
- Keiner David Ferrer Mariano
- Jhon Amauris Cujia Orozco
- Juan David Marmol Hernandez
- José Alfredo Fernando
- Carlos Mario Campo Gutiérrez
- Achilles Rafael Was Portuguese
- Ramón José Bolívar Yáñez
- Anubis Rafael Pacheco Olmos
- Nicolás Steven Yepes Guerra
- Antony José Urdaneta Tovar
- Uriel Ángel Sánchez Hernández
- Yandel Smith Acosta Ferrer
- Jorge Eliecer Mercado Macías
- Emel Isaac Pareja Acosta
- Brayan Enrique Díaz Angulo
