Néider Yesid Uñates López, known as alias “Primo Gay“, was captured by military and police forces in the rural area of Santa Ana in Briceño, Antioquia.
According to reporting from El Tiempo, Uñates López commanded the 36th Front of the FARC dissidents under the orders of alias Calarcá before moving through various criminal alliances.
Authorities had tracked the suspect for months amid intense pressure against armed factions in Briceño, Yarumal, and surrounding municipalities. During the raid, security forces seized two 9mm pistols, ammunition, and magazines, alongside the arrest of a second person whose identity and pending charges authorities did not disclose.
“Pronto se le quitará esa sonrisa de la cara”: gobernador sobre captura de ‘Primo Gay’https://t.co/xl0syIRKWo
The detainee faced warrants for aggravated homicide, aggravated conspiracy to commit a crime, and weapons violations. Officials linked him to forced displacements, extortion, and explosive attacks against infrastructure and security forces, while investigators also examined whether he trained Clan del Golfo members in placing minefields and said that his faction’s territorial disputes forced displacements across several rural hamlets in Ituango while causing military casualties.
“Este sujeto figuraba entre los más buscados de Antioquia y era requerido por la justicia por homicidio agravado, concierto para delinquir agravado y delitos relacionados con armas de fuego y municiones. Este bandido está vinculado con la instalación de campos minados, ataques contra nuestra Fuerza Pública, asesinatos y atentados contra infraestructura y maquinaria,” said President Abelardo De La Espriella.
El alcalde de Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, informó que sostuvo una conversación telefónica con el presidente Abelardo de la Espriella y el gobernador de Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, tras la captura de alias ‘Primo Gay’. El mandatario destacó el trabajo articulado entre el… pic.twitter.com/TXzhnY01Mq
Governor Andrés Julián Rendón also addressed the public regarding the operation. “Queridos antioqueños: La Fuerza Pública acaba de capturar en o norte de Antioquia a ‘Primo Gay’, criminal que usó distintos pelambres y que mucho daño ocasionó desde las estructuras donde delinquió en el frente 36 de Farc y en el ‘Clan del Golfo’,” said Rendón.
Additional Officials React
Mayor Federico Gutiérrez celebrated the operation. “Uno de los peores bandidos de Antioquia y de Colombia,” said Gutiérrez.
Defense Minister Jorge Mora also commented on the development. “Golpe contundente al narcoterrorismo en Antioquia,” said Mora.
Reporting from Caracol Radio detailed that the arrest occurred as Uñates López traveled from Briceño toward Ventanas, though differing local reports placed the exact location of the raid in Llanos de Cuivá.
🚨 Cayó alias “Primo Gay”. Ha sido capturado en llanos de cuivá. Felicitaciones al Presidente @ABDELAESPRIELLA , al Ministro de Defensa General Mora @mindefensa a nuestra fuerza Pública @COL_EJERCITO @PoliciaColombia @FiscaliaCol CTI por este importante golpe. Fue del frente 36… pic.twitter.com/k5H49GKZid
In April, authorities had increased the bounty for information leading to his capture to 640 million pesos. He had previously eluded a military operation in March during clashes in rural Briceño, where troops seized communications equipment and captured two individuals linked to his inner circle.
Uñates López was subsequently transferred to Medellín to face formal judicial proceedings for his alleged crimes.
Antioqueños: estas son las primeras imágenes de Primo Gay capturado, un delincuente antes farc Calarcá y ahora Clan del Golfo. Un mercenario del terror y la muerte. Pronto se le quitará esa sonrisa de la cara: sus crímenes lo perseguirán por siempre. pic.twitter.com/3mlkX9JCkS
