The second-in-command of the FARC’s Southern Bloc, one of the rebel structures most involved with drug trafficking, on Friday joined fellow-guerrilla commanders at ongoing peace talks with the Colombia’s government.
“Fabian Ramirez”, real name Jose Cabrera, will take a seat at the negotiating table as guerrillas and government continue their dialogue that began back in November 2012.
The latest round of talks sees the two sides approaching a consensus on the prevention of drug trafficking and and drug consumption.
MORE: FARC peace talks on drugs issue resumes amid tensions over military
Ramirez has been one of the most notorious leaders of the guerrillas, leading several assaults against the state including a battle in 1998 in the western state of Caqueta in which 63 Colombian soldiers lost their lives and another 43 were kidnapped.
The senior rebel — serving under the command of “Joaquin Gomez” — is considered one of the rebel commanders most intimately involved with drug trafficking as some of the FARC-controlled coca cultivation areas fall under his command as well as the trafficking or arms and drugs respectively from and to Ecuador.
Sources
- Desde Cuba confirmaron llegada a la mesa de “Fabían Ramírez” (El Colombiano)
- Narcotics Reward Program (State Department)