The Metropolitan Police of Valledupar, through its Special Operations Group (GOES) and with specialized Anti-Narcotics personnel, captured two men and seized 298 kilos of marijuana from a private vehicle under the Esmeralda Plus strategy.[1] Officers signalled a car carrying two men aged 43 and 55 to stop during registration and control checks.[1] The two occupants were identified as Jonathan Jaar Olivares Iguarán, aged 43, and Yiovani Atencia Patiño, aged 55.[2] The men were captured in flagrancia, informed of their rights and placed at the disposal of the Attorney General’s Office for trafficking, manufacturing or carrying narcotics, then transferred to the URI for judicialization.[2]

Officers found five multicoloured plastic sacks inside the vehicle containing more than 300 rectangular packages wrapped in plastic wrap and adhesive tape with number 8 billiard-ball logos.[1] Anti-narcotics verification confirmed the contents were pressed marijuana ready for illegal distribution.[1] Police said a criminal organization was transporting the substance to various criminal groups.[1]

The stop took place at Calle 6D with Simón Bolívar Avenue in the Pontevedra Norte neighbourhood, where officers were conducting searches and checks of people and vehicles.[1] Investigators presume the load was destined for the department of La Guajira, from where it would be sent abroad by illegal boats.[1] Police put the affected criminal revenue at approximately 81 million pesos.[2] Police said the seizure prevented more than 596,000 doses of marijuana reaching the market.[2] Metropolitan commander Colonel Alex Durán said the operation reflected coordinated work between specialized units against drug trafficking.[2]