An 82-year and Colombian man died Sunday after being shot by a Peruvian Navy patrol unit in the Putumayo River near the Colombia-Peru border.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez confirmed the death of José Miguel Gutiérrez Baquero on Monday. The incident occurred near the Peruvian town of San Antonio del Estrecho.
According to Sánchez Suárez, the naval division reported the presence of two vessels—a motorboat and a rowing boat—during a routine patrol. "In the development of this procedure, shots were fired," the minister stated via X.
Gutiérrez Baquero was the owner of the cargo vessel involved in the encounter. One of his sons was also wounded in the shooting and is currently receiving medical treatment in El Estrecho.
Peruvian authorities have detained two crew members of the vessel.
Binational investigation underway
Sánchez Suárez said Colombia has been in constant communication with the Peruvian Navy since the incident. He noted that both defense ministers agreed to prioritize medical care for the wounded son and ensure mutual cooperation for judicial authorities.
The two nations have agreed to activate diplomatic channels to form a binational commission. This group, consisting of judicial and military officials, will investigate the incident to determine responsibilities.
"The objective of the executive is to maintain cooperation between sister nations," Sánchez Suárez said.
This incident follows recent diplomatic friction between Bogotá and Lima. Last August, tensions rose after unidentified individuals raised a Colombian flag in the Peruvian municipality of Santa Rosa de Loreto.
That territory, located in the Amazon triple frontier, remains a point of contention. Colombian President Gustavo Petro previously accused Peru of appropriating the area, a claim rejected by Peruvian officials as a provocation.
