FBI Tricked ‘Bendito Menor’ in Operation to Kill Him

In a carefully orchestrated sting operation, the FBI played a key role in the capture and killing of Colombian criminal leader "Bendito Menor" in the city of Riohacha. The operation, dubbed "Operation Centinela de la Patria," aimed to eliminate Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, alias "Bendito Menor," who was considered a military target by the Colombian government.

Facing heightened security measures and tight control over his communications, Pérez Toncel had become a difficult target to locate. The FBI stepped in with a novel deception during the final stages of the operation. They circulated a false rumor within Los Pachenca, the criminal organization led by the fugitive, suggesting he had been killed by his own members. This rumor was bolstered by media reports and eventually filtered down to Pérez Toncel and his associates.

As the news spread, Pérez Toncel and his partner, Rosa Angelica Tarazona, or "la Bebecita," began reaching out to associates to verify their survival. These calls allowed investigators to triangulate the locations and pinpoint where the fugitive was hiding. The FBI's deception effectively broke the criminal's rule of remaining virtually invisible, providing authorities with the information needed to execute the final phase of the operation.

The operation, supported by U.S. military drones and thermal cameras, resulted in the deaths of Pérez Toncel, his associate "la Bebecita," and two other members of his organization. The raid also uncovered firearms and grenades, underscoring the criminal activities linked to Los Pachenca, a drug trafficking and extortion group operating in Colombia's Caribbean region.