The circumstances surrounding the kidnapping of a policeman in a road in Nariño: his cell phone turned off aroused suspicions among the captors

A police officer from the National Police, Álvaro Jair Pístala Garrido, was kidnapped while traveling on a public transport vehicle between the city of Pasto and the municipality of Policarpa in Nariño. The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 30, 2026, near the village of Altamira, within the jurisdiction of Policarpa. According to testimony from some of the 12 passengers who were also aboard the truck, which operated routes to several municipalities in the region, the kidnapping took place after the vehicle was intercepted by approximately 15 armed men wearing military-style clothing. These individuals ordered all passengers to disembark and demanded their mobile phones, seeking to identify them and determine their connections to the area. One passenger refused to hand over his phone, claiming it was turned off. This act sparked suspicion among the armed group, leading to tension within the group. The passenger in question was identified as Álvaro Jair Pístala Garrido, a 37-year-old police officer originally from Ipiales with over 12 years of service. He was affiliated with the Community Police unit in Policarpa, where he had been conducting social initiatives benefiting the local population and had earned the respect and admiration of the community. Under intense questioning, Pístala was forced to reveal his identity and his affiliation with the National Police. Immediately following this revelation, the armed group swiftly took him into custody, transporting him in a pickup truck alongside another vehicle toward an unknown location deep within the arid and isolated terrain of the Nariño mountain range. Before departing, one of the armed individuals informed the remaining passengers that they could continue their journey and would be returned their phones at a location known as La Piscina, close to the urban center of Policarpa. Upon arrival at La Piscina, the passengers alerted the local police station about the kidnapping and the uncertain whereabouts of the officer. Pístala had previously requested permission from his superiors to attend a medical appointment in Pasto on the morning of the same day, having left Policarpa the previous evening. In response, the Nariño Police Department issued a statement confirming coordination with the National Police’s Gaula unit, along with intelligence and criminal investigation capabilities, to conduct operational and investigative actions aimed at locating the officer, ensuring his safety, and clarifying the circumstances of the incident in this remote part of the department. Voices of condemnation have emerged since the disappearance of the officer, urging authorities to respect his life and secure his release promptly. The governor of Nariño has expressed concern over the incident and called for swift action to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, efforts continue to trace the officer's whereabouts and bring him back safely.