Colombian authorities said Monday they have captured two important ringleaders respectively of the neo-paramilitary group “Los Urabeños” and drug cartel “Los Rastrojos.”
Urabeños commander “Guarcharco” was captured on Sunday in an operation carried out by the police in the Pacific department of Choco. Two other men allegedly responsible for his security were also arrested.
Guarcharco was a demobilized fighter of the paramilitary “Heroes of Choco” bloc of the AUC before joining a smaller neo-paramilitary group called “Renacer” and the AUC’s main heir, the Urabeños, who police say have integrated their smaller sister group.
PROFILE: Los Urabeños
The arrest of Guarcharco is the second of a high-profile Urabeños commander allegedly in control of the pacific region; earlier this month, police claimed the arrest of “El Negro Orlando.”
MORE: Pacific ‘Urabeños’ drug trafficking chief captured: Colombian Police
The alleged ringleader of drug gang Los Rastrojos, “Palagua,” was captured on Monday in a police raid in the northwestern department of Antioquia.
Palagua and two arrested associates were immediately transported to the capital Bogota because of their alleged danger.
Antioquia police said in a press release the arrested suspect was one of their top targets. Palagua — like Guarcharco a former member of the AUC — is held responsible for ordering and executing a dozen murders, extortion, and forced displacement in the municipalities of northwest of Antioquia.
PROFILE: Los Rastrojos
Locations of the arrests
Sources
- Antioquia police press release
- Capturado el terror del nordeste de Antioquia (Radio Caracol)
- Capturado jefe de ‘los Urabeños’ en Chocó (El Tiempo)
- Autoridades capturaron a alias Guacharaco, jefe de ‘los Urabeños’ en Chocó (Radio W)
- Capturan a alias ‘Palaguas’, cabecilla de “Los Rastrojos” (El Espectador)