20 alleged members of drug trafficking organization “Los Rastrojos” were captured by police on Friday in the northeast of the country.
The suspects were arrested due to joint efforts anti-narcotics police and prosecutors. The group allegedly had been active in the city of Cucuta as well as having influence in the nearby municipalities of Villa del Rosario, Los Patios and El Zulia.
Authorities also announced that they arrested two police officers who are believed to have passed confidential information on to the criminals.
The two officers had been working for the Department of Criminal Investigation but are thought to have acted as informers for the drug traffickers.
The group, now detained, is being investigated for crimes of murder, extortion, robbery and drug trafficking.
The Rastrojos are a drug trafficking organization formed from the now-defunct Norte del Valle cartel and enforced by former paramilitaries. The group is particularly strong in the southwest of Colombia.
Area of Influence of alleged ‘Rastrojos’ branch
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