A demobilized paramilitary leader and alleged ally of former Medellin mayoral candidate Luis Perez is shot and murdered in the street in the Medellin suburb of Buenos Aires Friday.
Efrain Maldonado, known as “Don Efra,” “El Viejo” o “El Cabo,” was considered to be the leader of the entire paramilitary structure in the east central zone of Medellin and subject of a criminal investigation into the links the Perez campaign and criminal groups who according to electoral observers were intimidating voters in some of the poorer neighborhoods of the city.
Maldonado, who was a demobilized member of the “Heroes de Granada” block of the paramilitary AUC and also a member of the “Democracy Corporation” — a political organization made up of demobilized paramilitaries — was shot on route 32 with street 46.
Medellin Mayor Alonso Salazar, who in the heat of elections accused Perez and Maldonado of teaming up, has denounced the murder of the former paramilitary leader and called for the city to condemn actions of violence.
“One of the strongest hypothesis indicates that the attack occurred as a result of the territorial dispute between criminal groups that have influence in the comunas 8 and 9,” said Salazar.
The mayor made no reference to his previous accusations that Maldonado was involved with the Perez campaign. Accusations for which Salazar has to respond before the Inspector General’s Office for allegedly interfering with the elections.
The murdered ex-paramilitary leader was considered a powerful and influential member of paramilitary groups and, is suspected of having strong ties with organized crime throughout the city.