Authorities in Barranquilla have arrested two men suspected of having ties to the extradited Venezuelan drug trafficker Walid Makled.
The two men, wealthy Colombian landowner Victor Rafael Reales Hoyos and Venezuelan Alvaro Luis Ospino, alias “El Negro Dominga,” are allegedly members of “Los Piloneros,” also called “El Cartel del Sicariato,” a band of paid assassins who allegedly assisted Makled.
The men were captured by a joint force of agents from the special police body DIJIN and members of the local Barranquilla police force, and among other crimes, are thought to be responsible for the murders of jouralist Orel Sambrano Toro and veterinarian Francisco Jose Larrazabal Alamo.
Reales is believed to have been the leader of the band and Makled’s right-hand man, according to information held by the investigative body. According to newspaper El Heraldo, Reales was arrested based on an international search warrant issued by Interpol.
The two detainees were transferred to Bogota and authorities have said they will be extradited to Venezuela.