Colombian President De la Espriella Confirms Death of ACSN Leader 'Bendito Menor'

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed on September 4, 2026, the death of Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, known as alias Bendito Menor or Naín, during a security operation in the Los Olivos neighborhood of Riohacha, La Guajira. Pérez Toncel was the maximum leader of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN) and was identified by authorities as a high value target. The operation was carried out by a special command of the National Police, specifically the Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol (Dijín), with reported intelligence support from the United States. Along with Pérez Toncel, authorities reported the deaths of his partner, alias La Bebecita, and two other men identified as security personnel or logistical and financial chiefs. Two minors were recovered from the scene during the procedure. Pérez Toncel, aged 26 or 27, was linked to narcotics trafficking, extortion, and several violent crimes, including the 2025 Maicao massacre and the torture and murder of a 16 year old minor. He had five active arrest warrants and an Interpol red notice. President De la Espriella stated that his government will not negotiate with narcoterrorists and that peace is imposed through the force of arms and the law. This operation marks the second high value target killed under his administration, following the death of alias El Ruso. Experts have warned that the death of the ACSN leader could create a power vacuum, potentially leading to criminal disputes over illegal rents and territorial control in La Guajira.