Leigh Simon Elston, 38, was carrying a CZ handgun, a silencer and 24 rounds of ammunition when police stopped him in the city’s main nightlife district of El Poblado. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez says security operations will continue.
MEDELLÍN — A 38-year-old UK national wanted by police in Wales was arrested in Medellín after officers discovered a CZ pistol fitted with a silencer, two magazines and 24 rounds of ammunition in his bag during a security operation near Parque Lleras.
The man, identified as Leigh Simon Elston, was stopped on October 30 at the intersection of Calle 10 and Carrera 40, in El Poblado, as officers from the National Police’s Tourist Management Group conducted routine identification and security checks.
A search of his bag uncovered the firearm, two magazines containing nine and 15 rounds respectively, and a silencer. Elston was unable to produce the legal documentation authorising possession of the weapon and was arrested on suspicion of illegal firearms possession. He was subsequently placed at the disposal of Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office.
The arrest also uncovered an international criminal history. According to information attributed to British authorities, Elston was sentenced in July 2020 to five years and nine months in prison for offences involving the possession and supply of controlled drugs.
He was released on parole in 2024 but subsequently left the United Kingdom without complying with the conditions of his release. Gwent Police, in Wales, issued an appeal to locate him in June 2024, seeking his return to prison.
Colombian immigration records reportedly show that Elston entered the country in January 2025 on a 90-day tourist permit, which he subsequently overstayed. Migración Colombia has imposed an administrative sanction for irregular over-stay of visitor status.
The case prompted a response from Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez, who confirmed the arrest in a post on X and used the incident to reiterate his administration’s commitment to maintaining security controls in the city’s principal tourist and entertainment areas.
“There are no nationalities, privileges or exceptions,” stated Gutiérrez, stressing that police controls apply equally to everyone, irrespective of their country of origin. He added that interventions would continue in areas with high concentrations of tourists.
The arrest comes amid an intensified security campaign in Parque Lleras, where the municipal administration has sought to dismantle criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking and other illicit activities. Police figures reported in October indicate that more than 430 people had been arrested in operations conducted in and around the district since 2024. Authorities also reported 78 temporary business suspensions and the seizure of 8.5 kilograms of narcotics.
Gutiérrez has defended the interventions against criticism from some business operators who argue that the police presence and repeated inspections have damaged legitimate nightlife establishments and discouraged visitors. The mayor maintains that properties and businesses targeted by authorities have been identified for their alleged links to the mafia, and that legitimate operators should not fear the security measures. He has pledged municipal support for businesses operating within the law.
For the Mayor, the objective is to recover Parque Lleras as a safe destination for residents, tourists and legitimate businesses, rather than allow criminal networks to dictate commercial activity in one of Medellín’s most internationally recognised nightlife districts.
Elston’s arrest brings an international dimension to that effort. Colombian authorities are handling the alleged firearms offence, while international coordination is expected to determine the procedures for addressing the outstanding British judicial request. Any extradition or transfer will depend on the relevant legal proceedings
