Colombian Army captures alleged ELN drone operator 'El Compita' in Pailitas

Text poster only. The source video shows a night operation on a town street: soldiers in camouflage and police in yellow vests escort men whose faces are pixelated from a house to vehicles with flashing lights. A release photo shows three detainees with pixelated faces behind a table of seized items, including a pistol, grenades, a drone and an ELN flag. — Ejército Nacional de Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO), watch at source · Link-only (source-hosted; not rehosted)

Video and photos released Oct. 19, 2026 by the Colombian Army. The army says Fifth Brigade troops, through the Gaula Militar Chicamocha and with the National Police, captured alias 'El Compita', whom it calls an ELN drone operator linked to attacks on police stations in southern Cesar, and two alleged members of the ELN's Camilo Torres Restrepo Front. It says a drone, firearms, grenades, about 3 kg of ammonal-type explosive, ammunition and drugs were seized. The 41-second night video shows soldiers and police leading detainees, whose faces the army has pixelated; the links to the attacks are the army's allegations.

What: Colombian Army captures alleged ELN drone operator 'El Compita' in Pailitas
Where: Pailitas, Cesar, Colombia
When: Oct 19, 2026
Who: Ejército Nacional de Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO)
Status: Official release
Warning: Content warning: None. Night arrest; detainees' faces are pixelated by the army. The release links the suspect to attacks that killed police officers. Graphic level: none.

Sources

Ejército Nacional de Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO) · Ejército Nacional de Colombia on X (Oct. 19, 2026)

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Record details

Captured 19 October 2026. Time captured: not stated. Releasing authority: Ejército Nacional de Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO). Location: Pailitas, Cesar, Colombia.

Watch at source

Credit: Ejército Nacional de Colombia (@COL_EJERCITO), watch at source. License: Link-only (source-hosted; not rehosted).