Video Shows Colombian Commandos Capturing Drug Kingpin in Jungle Firefight

A video still taken from a Columbian special forces helmet cam shows the moment that Édgar Gutierrez Arenas surrenders. The drug kingpin was one of Columbia's top 20 most wanted men. (WarLeaks/YouTube)

Colombian special forces released a video from a helmet cam showing their capture one of the country’s top 20 most wanted men, Édgar Gutierrez Arenas, also known as “Thomas.”

The April 22 video is short, and comes in towards the end of what was likely a much longer firefight. It shows the commandos firing rifles into the jungle foliage. They then charge at and surround the shirtless Thomas, who surrenders as a helicopter swoops in overhead.

It ends with a face shot of Thomas on what looks like a small landing strip, and shows other individuals arrested in the raid.

According to El Universal, the operation took place in the municipality of Istmina (Chocó), and was launched just 24 hours after Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos revealed the country’s 20 most wanted organized crime kingpins.

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