Latest news with #OperationJustice
Qatar Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Colombian army frees fifty-seven soldiers held captive by locals
Fifty-seven soldiers who had been held captive by locals in the mountains of Colombia since the weekend have been freed in a military operation, the Colombian defence minister has said. The minister, Pedro Sánchez, said that not a single shot had been fired in what he dubbed 'Operation Justice'. The soldiers were seized in the Cauca region, a stronghold of the EMC rebel group, which engages in cocaine production and trafficking. Sánchez blamed the EMC for what he described as the soldiers' 'kidnapping', saying that the locals who had seized them had been ordered to do so by the rebels. The Colombian military said the incident had been triggered by the arrest of a suspected EMC rebel on Saturday. As the soldiers prepared to airlift the suspect out of the mountainous area, they were surrounded by more than 100 people. A second military unit was then seized the following day by an even larger group of locals, General Erick Rodríguez of the Colombian army said. It was not the first time that members of the security forces were detained by locals, but the size of the group of soldiers was unusually large. In past similar instances, locals negotiated with humanitarian groups and the captured soldiers were released relatively swiftly. But this time, those holding the 57 refused to talk to any go-betweens, triggering the deployment of extra troops to the area to free the captive soldiers. Heavily armed reinforcements were deployed to the area and arrested 20 people, the defence minister said. According to estimates by the military, more than 90% of the inhabitants of the area depend on the cultivation of coca bushes - the plant used to make cocaine - for a living. The presence of soldiers in the area is therefore often seen as a direct threat. (Agencies)
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Colombian army frees 57 soldiers detained by locals
Fifty-seven soldiers who had been held captive by locals in the mountains of Colombia since the weekend have been freed in a military operation, the Colombian defence minister has minister, Pedro Sánchez, said that not a single shot had been fired in what he dubbed "Operation Justice".The soldiers were seized in the Cauca region, a stronghold of the EMC rebel group, which engages in cocaine production and Sánchez blamed the EMC for what he described as the soldiers' "kidnapping", saying that the locals who had seized them had been ordered to do so by the rebels. The Colombian military said the incident had been triggered by the arrest of a suspected EMC rebel on the soldiers prepared to airlift the suspect out of the mountainous area, they were surrounded by more than 100 people.A second military unit was then seized the following day by an even larger group of locals, General Erick Rodríguez of the Colombian army was not the first time that members of the security forces were detained by locals, but the size of the group of soldiers was unusually past similar instances, locals negotiated with humanitarian groups and the captured soldiers were released relatively this time, those holding the 57 refused to talk to any go-betweens, triggering the deployment of extra troops to the area to free the captive armed reinforcements were deployed to the area and arrested 20 people, the defence minister to estimates by the military, more than 90% of the inhabitants of the area depend on the cultivation of coca bushes - the plant used to make cocaine - for a presence of soldiers in the area is therefore often seen as a direct threat. The region has also been blighted by the presence of several armed groups which extort farmers and landowners, and engage in illegal mining and cocaine trafficking.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
10 Kentuckians indicted in joint FBI child exploitation investigation
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday, May 7, that 10 Kentuckians have been indicted in a joint investigation cracking down on sex crimes involving children. According to the Louisville division of the FBI, 205 people accused of child sexual abuse have been arrested in the past week. The operation involved all 55 FBI field offices and resulted in 10 federal indictments in the Eastern District of Kentucky alone. 'These depraved human beings, if convicted, will face the maximum penalty in prison, some life,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said. 'We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will charge you. If you are online targeting a child, you will not escape us. The FBI and the Department of Justice will come after you, and we'll prosecute you.' Lawrenceburg man sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for receiving child porn Six were arrested in Kentucky, three were already in custody, and one case is still outstanding, the FBI said. According to the Department of Justice, the following eight men in Kentucky were charged in connection with Operation Justice: Jason Back, 42, of Salyersville, was charged with online enticement of a minor. Jesus Chavez, 33, of Somerset, faces five counts of producing child pornography. Jordan Cobb, 33, of Salyersville, was charged with online enticement of a minor and cyberstalking a minor. Austin Hawk, 25, of Pittsburg, was charged with transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity. Nathan Smith, 30, of Manchester, was charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Michael Moon, 47, of Annville, was charged with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Timothy Ray Dale, 63, of Paris, was charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Finley Wooton, 32, of Hyden, was charged with the attempted production of child pornography. One indictment is under seal. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Olivia Olson, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office, commended the joint task force for their dedication to working to find alleged perpetrators of child abuse. 'The subjects arrested in this operation included those in positions of public trust–law enforcement, members of the military and teachers. Others are your neighbors, proving criminal activity can be found even in the most familiar places. They're accused of various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking,' the FBI said. The nationwide investigation remains ongoing. More information about Operation Justice can be found at the Department of Justice website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
