Twenty alleged members of the Medellin-based drug gang “Oficina de Envigado” have been captured in an operation carried out by the Colombian intelligence agency DAS. Among the suspects are three police officials.
Eleven of the detainees are reportedly members of the Pachely armed branch of the fractured Oficina de Envigado, which is controlled by Erick Vargas, alias “Sebastian.”
Three are members of the Medellin police force. In a press release, Medellin police commissioner Yesid Vasquez said the cops were arrested on conspiracy charges and reiterated the police department’s zero tolerance policy towards corrupt officials.
Among the detained individuals is an offender known by the alias “Albert,” who authorities believe is a high-level Pachely leader.
The Prosecutor General’s Office issued a total of 45 arrest warrents.
According to DAS, the operation followed a year and a half of wiretapping and surveillance carried out by DAS agents in Medellin, Bello, and Itagui.