Colombian authorities have called upon jungle commandos to aid their search for Luis Diaz’s father. The Liverpool winger was not included in his side’s squad to face Nottingham Forest over the weekend, with Diogo Jota dedicating his goal to his teammate and the nightmare that he is being forced to endure.
Diaz’s parents Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped in Colombia over the weekend, with the couple being stopped in their car at a petrol station in Barrancas and captured by four gunmen on motorbikes. Maralunda was later released and rescued by the police, but Luis Manuel remains missing.
A significant rescue mission is now underway, with over 120 different people involved and senior officials drawing up the plan to try and gain more information on the whereabouts of Luis Manuel. News outlets in Colombia report that the Colombian army is now monitoring the Venezuelan border as suspicions grow that the Liverpool star’s father is being taken to the neighbouring country.
The jungle that splits the nations is being watched, though police are refusing to rule out that Luis Manuel is with his captors in Venezuela already despite it being a tricky route to cross the border. Police director General William Salamanca told Semana: “About that [being in Venezuela], I cannot give any information.
“I want to be very cautious. I flew over the area and they would have to cross the Perija mountain range, but I think that a human being cannot do it in that area.
“We were trying to leave some commandos there and we couldn’t because of the denseness of the jungle. Also since last night, there has been a blockade that the army made in the lower part of the mountain range, which would be the exit to Venezuela.”
Three Black Hawk helicopters, an Aerospace Force and jungle commandos plan to continue to watch over the jungle and its surrounding areas on the lookout for Diaz’s father, with the Serrania del Perija mountains also being monitored despite being viewed as a treacherous route to Venezuela.
General Zapata, who is also overseeing the operation with General Salamanca, added: “What we know is that the kidnapping occurs in La Guajira and logically it is close to the border, we do not have at this time any element of judgment that indicates that the border has been crossed. We can’t say for sure, but we don’t rule it out either. It’s quite possible that they’re looking for a chance to escape to that place. We have made progress in the investigation, there are personnel from the Gaula and the Intelligence and Judicial Police who are analysing that information.”
