Colombia Captures Two Top Leaders of US-Sought Tren de Aragua Gang

Colombian authorities captured two key leaders of the Tren de Aragua cartel in Manizales on September 3, 2026.

TruthFoundry News Desk

Stands on 7 placed sources from 3 publishers.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced on September 3, 2026, that National Police forces captured Richard José Espinal Quintero and Henderzon Adrián Villarroel Luque in Manizales, Caldas. ^[1] The suspects, known by the aliases El Coti and El Patón, are identified as presumptive leaders of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. ^[2] Abelardo De La Espriella stated that the two arrested men are part of a cell of the Tren de Aragua and attributed specific roles to them within the criminal group. ^[3] Henderzon Adrián Villarroel Luque is accused of trafficking weapons and coordinating the logistics for shipping cocaine to Central America, the United States, and Europe. ^[4] Richard José Espinal Quintero was the fourth leader of the Tren de Aragua in Colombia and had been a fugitive since 2023 with an Interpol Red Notice. ^[5] The capture occurred during an operation named Operación Titán, which was developed by the National Police's Intelligence Directorate (DIPOL) and the GAULA Élite unit. ^[6] A video recording of the arrest procedure was widely circulated on digital platforms, showing uniformed officers and the moment an agent ordered a detainee to remove his hands from a blanket. ^[7]

What this stands on

The suspects, known by the aliases El Coti and El Patón, are identified as presumptive leaders of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. · El Universo

Abelardo De La Espriella stated that the two arrested men are part of a cell of the Tren de Aragua and attributed specific roles to them within the criminal group. · Publimetro Colombia

Henderzon Adrián Villarroel Luque is accused of trafficking weapons and coordinating the logistics for shipping cocaine to Central America, the United States, and Europe. · El Universo

Richard José Espinal Quintero was the fourth leader of the Tren de Aragua in Colombia and had been a fugitive since 2023 with an Interpol Red Notice. · El Universo

The capture occurred during an operation named Operación Titán, which was developed by the National Police's Intelligence Directorate (DIPOL) and the GAULA Élite unit. · Vanguardia

A video recording of the arrest procedure was widely circulated on digital platforms, showing uniformed officers and the moment an agent ordered a detainee to remove his hands from a blanket. · Publimetro Colombia

We could not place any of them by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.

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