Venezuelan authorities arrested the alleged second in command of a feared Colombian drug trafficking ring Thursday.
Juan Carlos Peña, alias “Yerno”, was caught Thursday on Margarita Island by members of Venezuela’s National Bolivarian Guard, with the help of U.S. agents. Peña is believed to have been a close associate of “Megateo,” a former EPL guerrilla who formed a dissident drug traffickig ring when his group demobilized in 1991.
“The subject is wanted…by Colombia and the United States as [he is allegedly] a boss of an international criminal organization,” claimed Venezuela’s Minister of Justice and the Interior Nestor Reverol.
RT @correoorinoco: Capturan a cabecilla de banda de narcotráfico internacional en Margarita
— Nestor Reverol (@NestorReverol) November 22, 2012
The 26-year old Peña, “was captured with information from our police and in joint collaboration with, whom I thank, the Venezuelan authorities,” said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos following the arrest.
Megateo and his colleagues have been wanted for drug trafficking, money laundering, manufacturing or bearing of weapons, extortion, murder and forced displacement.