The Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) released two Colombian police officers this month after they were held captive for approximately 11 months [1].
The release of the officers marks the end of a long-term captivity for members of the Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Intercultural, known as DIJIN. Such incidents highlight the ongoing volatility in Colombia's border regions where guerrilla groups maintain operational control.
The two officers [1] were captured July 20, 2025 [2], on the road between Tame and Arauca in the Arauca Department [1]. They remained in the custody of the ELN until their release in June 2026 [1].
While some reports suggest a different number of officers were released in other regions, local reports from Arauca confirm the release of these two specific DIJIN members [1]. The captives had spent nearly a year in the jungle, a period characterized by isolation and uncertainty for their families.
Upon the reunion, the emotional toll of the captivity was evident. "No dudé de usted, mi Dios," a family member of one of the released officers said [1].
The ELN has long operated in the Arauca Department, utilizing the remote terrain to conduct kidnappings and maintain territorial influence. The return of the officers to their families follows months of tension in the region.
“The two officers were captured on July 20, 2025.”
The release of DIJIN officers by the ELN reflects the complex security landscape in the Arauca Department, where the state struggles to maintain a permanent presence. The duration of the captivity—nearly a year—underscores the ELN's capacity to hold high-value targets in remote areas, while the eventual release may be linked to broader negotiation dynamics or humanitarian pressures within the Colombian peace process.
