Photo of Luis Edgar Devia Silva alias Raúl Reyes working on a laptop computer, retrieved from FARC computer exhibit Image retrieved from a FARC computer exhibit

See also   Executive Committee unanimously affirms INTERPOL’s report on seized FARC computers and highlights its long history of impartiality (25/06/2008)        INTERPOL reaffirms key findings of its examination of seized FARC computers in response to efforts to distort conclusions (13/06/2008)        INTERPOL releases Forensic Report requested by Colombia on seized FARC computers and hardware (15/05/2008)        Read the report (15/05/2008)   Presentation of INTERPOL’s forensic report on FARC computers and hardware seized by Colombia by INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble (15/05/2008)

Kidnapped in February 2002 while campaigning for the Colombian presidency, Ingrid Betancourt was the highest-profile captive among the estimated 700 people currently held by the FARC.

INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said the result was a major victory in the struggle against the FARC waged by Colombia and other countries for more than 40 years.

“The successful liberation of Ingrid Betancourt, three US citizens and 11 Colombians, including four police officers, is the latest in a series of events which will hopefully in time be seen as a key turning point in the fight against terrorism in the region,” said Secretary General Noble.

“This is clearly a wonderful time for all of the rescued hostages and their loved ones, but in this moment of joy we must not forget the hundreds of people still in FARC captivity and their families who continue to live in fear and worry.

“On behalf of the law enforcement community worldwide, I would like to congratulate and praise the Colombian authorities for what was a brave and totally effective operation and hope this is the first major step in ensuring the freedom of all FARC hostages,” added Mr Noble.

INTERPOL presented on May 15 the findings of its forensic examination of computers and hardware seized by Colombia from a FARC camp during an anti-narcotics and anti-terrorist operation on 1 March 2008.

The examination by INTERPOL’s team of forensic experts carried out at the request of Colombia concluded that there was ‘no evidence of modification, alteration, addition or deletion’ in the user files of any of the three laptop computers, three USB thumb drives and two external hard disks recovered during the raid. The seized computer exhibits had belonged to Raúl Reyes, a senior FARC leader who was killed during the operation.