Pacific ‘Urabeños’ drug trafficking chief captured: Colombian Police

General Jose Roberto Leon (Photo: Telemedellin)

Colombia’s National Police on Thursday claimed the arrest of an alleged ringleader of neo-paramilitary group “Los Urabeños” who is thought to run the Pacific drug trafficking activities of  the organization.

According to Radio Caracol, National Police chief Jose Roberto Leon confirmed the arrest of “El Negro Orlando.”

The alleged drug trafficker was captured, along with one other person, while driving his bullet-proof car in the southwestern city of Cali, in an operation organized by the judicial and intelligence branch of the Colombian police.

PROFILELos Urabeños

“El Negro Orlando” is suspected of running the Urabeños’ operations along the coast of the Valle del Cauca and Choco departments and allegedly was taking part in neo-paramilitary operations in the port city of Buenaventura, where the Urabeños are fighting another criminal named “Empresa.”

Last Thursday another alleged Urabeños leader, alias “El Negro Sarley”, was killed after a military operation in the Colombian department of Antioquia.

MORE:  ‘Urabeños’ leader dead: Defense Minister

The Urabeños are a neo-paramilitary group, which was formed in the north of the country during the official demobilization of paramilitary organization AUC between 2003 and 2006. Since then they have expanded throughout the country and make money through drug trafficking, extortion and contract-killings.

El Negro Orlando’s alleged area of operations

Sources

Related posts

One of Colombia’s top publications suspends reporting on drug trafficking and paramilitaries

Petro calls on Colombia’s left to mobilize over election probe

Why a single company became “the greatest danger to Colombia’s democracy”