Bogotá, October 6 (OP). "The Ministry of National Defense informs that those responsible for the murder of 12 members of the Awa indigenous community on August 26 earlier this year were apprehended, thanks to the joint efforts of the National Police and the Office of the Attorney General. This result highlights the benefits of effective cooperation between the Ministry of National Defense, the Public Force and the judicial authorities.

"A thorough criminal investigation led to the apprehension of three people, including the mastermind and the perpetrator of this heinous crime. These subjects were members of the band ‘Los Cucarachos’, a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping.

"The operation that led to the arrest was conducted by a special Life Area (Área de Vida) Group of the Dijin (Central Directorate of the Judicial Police and Intelligence) in the township of La Guayacana, Tumaco municipality.

"The National Government appreciates the cooperation of the citizens, as it led to the whereabouts of the murderers, and has announced a 130 Million Pesos reward to those who provided such information.

The band ‘Los Cucarachos’ and specifically those apprehended are currently under investigation for other massacres, kidnappings and extortions the Department of Nariño.

Information that is still being verified indicates that at least one of the detainees was a former member of the ‘Daniel Aldana’ group of the Farc".