This Friday, “The Infiltrator” hits theatersa film that promises to shed light on the incredible and little-known story of Elena Tejada, the only police officer who managed to infiltrate the terrorist group ETA during one of the darkest moments of its activity. This biopic, directed by Arantxa Echevarriais based on true events and stars Carolina Yuste, who plays the courageous agent who left her life behind to play one of the most dangerous jobs in the fight against terrorism in Spain.
The project is an opportunity for the public to discover the sacrifices and dangers associated with undercover work. For eight years, Elena Tejada, under the false identity of Aranzazu Berradre Marínhe immerses himself in the world of ETA, gaining the trust of some of its most dangerous members and collecting key information for the gang’s dismantling.
Elena Tajada’s story
Elena Tejada was only 20 years old when she decided to accept the riskiest mission of her police career.: infiltrate ETA, an organization that has waged a decades-long campaign of brutal violence in pursuit of independence from the Basque Country. To carry out this operation, he had to cut all ties with his family and friends. From this moment on, his life puts himself at the service of the State under a new identity, in a world full of mistrust, betrayals and the constant danger of being discovered.
From a young age, Elena had to earn the trust of the members of the Conscientious objection movement in Logroñowho considered her a sympathizer of the Basque cause. It was the gateway to access circles close to ETA.a closed world, controlled by fear and paranoia. Tejada knew that any mistake could cost him his life. Not only was she undercover, but she was living with ETA in apartments under constant police surveillance, adding additional pressure to the challenge he faces daily.
Tejada’s work was key to one of the greatest successes of the Spanish security forces in their fight against terrorism: the dismantling of the Donosti Command, one of the most active cells of ETA. During her undercover work, Elena was able to gather crucial information about the gang’s plans, including their tactics and the collaborators who supported their activities. This included details of the shelter networks where members of the commando were hiding. and the strategies the gang used to reorganize after each police coup.
What was the “trap truce”?
One of the highlights of his work took place during the so-called “trap truce” of 1998. In September of the same year, ETA announced a ceasefire, supposedly paving the way for dialogue with the Spanish government. Many believed it was a first step towards ending the violence that had bloodied Spain for years. However, the truce was a deceptive strategy. Elena, due to her privileged position within the ETA environmentwas able to inform authorities that the gang not only did not intend to stop its activity, but was taking advantage of this time to rearm and reorganize.
Thanks to the information provided by Elena, Security forces managed to anticipate ETA movements and prevent the truce from being used to prepare for new attacks. The information he provided allowed authorities to identify those responsible for the gang’s reorganization and, above all, to dismantle the Donosti Command, a major blow to the organization at a time when it was seeking to strengthen itself.
The consequences of all this
Although her work was essential in stopping terrorist activity, the personal cost Elena had to pay was immense. During the years she spent undercover, she had to completely abandon her personal life. The danger of being discovered was always presentwhich forced him to live in a constant state of alert. In addition, maintaining close relationships with people involved in violent and criminal acts, by pretending to be part of it, it generated enormous emotional pressure.
Cutting ties with his family was one of the hardest decisions he had to make. To protect both her mission and those close to her, Elena disappeared from the radar of those who knew her. I couldn’t explainhe could not visit his parents or contact his friends. His life, as he knew it, was put on hold to devote himself entirely to a job that was as risky as it was solitary.
This emotional isolation added to the constant stress of knowing that any mistake could cost him his life.. However, despite these challenges, Elena managed to keep her identity a secret for eight long years. All of this has an impact today thanks to Carolina Yuste’s new film.
