Colombian Police Arrest Welsh Fugitive Carrying Silenced Pistol in Medellín

A British Fugitive Arrested in Medellín

Colombian police arrested British national Leigh Simon Elston, 38, in Medellín on October 30 after finding a CZ pistol, a silencer, two ammunition magazines and 24 rounds in his bag during a security operation near Parque Lleras. Authorities subsequently identified him as a man sought by police in Wales following a prison sentence for drug-related offences and an alleged breach of his release conditions.

The arrest took place at the intersection of Calle 10 and Carrera 40 in El Poblado, one of Medellín’s principal nightlife and tourist districts. Officers from the National Police’s tourism protection unit stopped Elston during identification and security checks. El Espectador reported that he could not provide documentation authorising possession of the firearm and was arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of firearms, accessories and ammunition.

Authorities found a CZ handgun, a sound suppressor and two magazines containing nine and 15 rounds respectively. Medellín police commander Colonel Richard Raúl Fajardo Ayala said the weapon and ammunition would undergo technical and ballistic examinations to establish whether they might be connected to other criminal incidents in the city, according to El Colombiano.

Welsh drug conviction and alleged breach of release conditions

The case took on an international dimension when police checks reportedly revealed that Elston had been sought by Gwent Police in Wales since 2024.

According to information attributed to British authorities by Colombian media, Elston was sentenced in July 2020 to five years and nine months in prison for offences involving the supply of controlled drugs. He was released on licence in 2024 but subsequently left the United Kingdom without complying with the conditions imposed on his release. Gwent Police reportedly issued an appeal to locate him in June of that year.

His arrest in Medellín therefore followed more than two years in which British authorities had reportedly been seeking his whereabouts. Infobae’s account of the case also identifies the earlier conviction and the alleged breach of release conditions.

Immigration records reveal earlier overstay

The fugitive entered Colombia on January 21, 2025, through José María Córdova International Airport, with permission to remain for 90 days.

He subsequently left the country through the Rumichaca border crossing with Ecuador on July 4, 2025 — 75 days beyond the permitted period, according to a Migración Colombia administrative decision dated October 2, 2025. The authority reportedly imposed a fine of COP 2.847 million for the immigration violation.

Elston had three recorded entries into Colombia and that authorities identified an Interpol Blue Notice in his name. Such notices are used to collect information about a person’s identity, location or activities in connection with a criminal investigation; they are not equivalent to an international arrest warrant.

Colombian authorities investigate firearms offence

Elston now faces a separate legal process in Colombia. The alleged unauthorised possession of a firearm and ammunition falls under Article 365 of Colombia’s Criminal Code, which criminalises activities including carrying or possessing certain firearms and ammunition without the required authorisation.

Under the law, the offence carries significant prison penalties. The precise legal classification and any eventual sentence will depend on the facts established in the investigation and the judicial proceedings.

The firearm, suppressor and ammunition were seized for examination, while Elston was placed at the disposal of Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office. Authorities have not publicly established that the weapon was used in another crime.

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez confirmed the arrest in a post on X, saying that security controls would continue in areas with high concentrations of visitors. The mayor stressed that the rules applied regardless of nationality.

The case now involves two distinct matters: the Colombian investigation into the alleged illegal possession of a firearm, and the outstanding British judicial matter arising from Elston’s earlier conviction and alleged breach of release conditions. Any transfer or extradition process would depend on the relevant legal requests and decisions by the competent authorities.

Headline photo: Elston in an orange Nike T-shirt standing between two officers. (Photo: Official release by Policía Nacional de Colombia)