Authorities in central Colombia said Thursday they have arrested the cousin of the supreme leader of ERPAC, a feared neo-paramilitary drug trafficking organization.
According to the National Police, the arrested Omar Lopez Mahecha, alias “Ocoro,” led a faction of ERPAC in the central Meta department and is the cousin of Jose Eberto Lopez Montero, alias “Caracho,” who according to authorities took over the neo-paramilitary organization after its original leader “Cuchillo” died in an attack on his compound in December 2010. His cousin is said to be second in command.
Ocoro allegedly commanded a group of 35 and was in charge of drug trafficking operations and the recruitment of contract killers.
ERPAC was formed after paramilitary organization AUC, of which Cuchillo formed part, demobilized between 2003 and 2006. The organization is alleged to have ties to the drug trafficking organization of “El Loco” Barrera and is mostly active in the eastern departments of Colombia.