Colombian Crime Figure ‘La Bebecita’ Killed After Plea Deal
COLOMBIA · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What happened Colombian police killed a woman known as “La Bebecita,” identified as Rosa Angélica Tarazona, during a raid on September 4.
- —How big She died alongside her partner, Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, known as “Bendito Menor,” in the same Riohacha raid.
- —What it means Toncel led Los Pachenca, a Caribbean-region crime group, while Tarazona managed its money and paid armed members.
- —The catch One day before she died, Tarazona had already agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge.
- —What comes next Former President Gustavo Petro has publicly questioned the raid, asking why officers did not spare lives.
A Colombian police raid killed a crime figure known as “La Bebecita” one day after she struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
Colombian police killed a woman known as “La Bebecita” during a raid in Riohacha on September 4, 2026. Her real name was Rosa Angélica Tarazona, multiple Colombian outlets reported.
She died alongside her partner in the same operation. He was known as Bendito Menor, whose real name was Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel.
Who Were ‘La Bebecita’ and ‘Bendito Menor’?
Toncel led a criminal group known as Los Pachenca, active in Colombia’s Caribbean region. Investigators say Tarazona managed the group’s money and paid its armed members.
Riohacha is the capital of La Guajira, a department on Colombia’s Caribbean coast near the border with Venezuela. Los Pachenca has operated there for years, security officials say.
Los Pachenca formed from remnants of a demobilized paramilitary group in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Colombia classified it as an organized armed group in 2025, Infobae reported.
The group has also been linked to kidnappings in rural Riohacha. Colombia’s army freed 15 people held by Los Pachenca there in May 2026, Infobae reported.
Toncel had also taken part in Colombia’s “Total Peace” talks with armed groups, Infobae reported in 2025. Infobae described him as both a peace negotiator and a wanted crime boss.
Colombian authorities had arrested Tarazona once before, as a Pachenca leader in La Guajira. A judge granted her house arrest in October 2025, according to Infobae.
Colombia’s Defense Ministry had offered a reward of 500 million pesos (about US$159,000) for tips leading to his capture. It made that offer in April 2026, according to Infobae.
A Plea Deal, Then a Deadly Raid
One day before she died, Tarazona had reached a plea deal with prosecutors. She had agreed to admit guilt on a conspiracy charge, according to El Tiempo and Infobae.
The couple had reportedly been planning to marry, according to Infobae. Colombian security forces killed four people in total during the Riohacha raid, El País (Cali) reported.
President Abelardo de la Espriella took office in August 2026. He had campaigned on cracking down on armed groups.
He ordered an intensified search for Toncel weeks before the raid, according to Prensa Mercosur. Police reportedly used a ruse to locate him beforehand, Pulzo reported.
El Tiempo reported a leadership struggle may now follow inside Los Pachenca in La Guajira. Other commanders could compete to fill the vacuum left by Toncel’s death, that outlet said.
A Former President Questions the Raid
The operation has drawn political scrutiny inside Colombia. Former President Gustavo Petro publicly questioned the police response afterward, Infobae reported.
Petro left office in August 2026 after his term ended. He asked why officers did not prioritize saving lives, several Colombian outlets reported.
He suggested officers aimed to kill the suspects rather than capture them. Colombia’s commerce minister publicly pushed back on those comments, Semana reported.
He called the criticism cynical, according to Semana. The dispute highlights early friction over Colombia’s new security approach.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was ‘La Bebecita,’ and what happened before she died?
She was Rosa Angélica Tarazona, who managed money for the Los Pachenca crime group. She had struck a plea deal with prosecutors the day before police killed her.
Who was ‘Bendito Menor’?
He was Naín Andrés Pérez Toncel, the leader of the Los Pachenca crime group. He died alongside Tarazona in the same Riohacha police raid.
What is Los Pachenca?
Los Pachenca is a criminal group active across Colombia’s Caribbean coast region. It formed from remnants of a demobilized paramilitary group, security officials say.
Why did former President Gustavo Petro question the raid?
Petro asked why police did not prioritize saving lives during the operation. Colombia’s commerce minister publicly pushed back, calling that criticism cynical.
Sources: Infobae, El Tiempo, Semana, El País (Cali), Pulzo, Prensa Mercosur.
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