British National Arrested with Silenced Pistol in Medellín’s Parque Lleras
Leigh Simon Elston, 38, was carrying a CZ handgun, a silencer and 24 rounds of ammunition when police stopped him in the city’s main nightlife district of El Poblado. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez says security operations will continue. MEDELLÍN — A 38-year-old UK national wanted by police in Wales was arrested in Medellín after officers discovered […]
British national Leigh Simon Elston, 38, was arrested in Medellín, Colombia on October 30, 2024, while carrying a silenced pistol and ammunition. The arrest occurred during a routine security operation near Parque Lleras, a popular tourist area. According to Colombian authorities, Elston was stopped by officers from the National Police’s Tourist Management Group in El Poblado, the city’s main nightlife district.
Upon searching his bag, police found the firearm, two magazines containing ammunition, and a silencer. Elston was unable to provide the necessary legal documentation for possessing the weapon and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of illegal firearms possession. The arrest revealed an international criminal history for Elston.
British authorities reported that he was sentenced in July 2020 to five years and nine months in prison for drug-related offenses, which he served partially on parole before leaving the UK in breach of conditions in 2024. British police had issued an appeal in June 2024 to locate Elston. Colombian immigration records show that he entered the country in January 2025 on a tourist visa, which he subsequently overstayed.
The case led Mayor Federico Gutiérrez to reaffirm his administration's commitment to maintaining security controls in Medellín's tourist areas, emphasizing that security measures apply equally to all individuals regardless of nationality. Since 2024, over 430 people have been arrested in Medellín's Parque Lleras, along with the suspension of 78 businesses and the seizure of narcotics, as part of the city's intensified security campaign targeting criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking.
Mayor Gutiérrez defended the measures against criticism from some business owners, stating that targeted properties were linked to the mafia and legitimate operators should not fear the security measures. The focus is on recovering Parque Lleras as a safe destination for residents, tourists, and legitimate businesses.
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