Colombia’s armed forces have captured 10 members of the notorious criminal organisation, the “Urabeños,” in the southwest of the country, the National Army announced on Thursday.
The Army dismantled a structure and arrested 10 members of the “Urabeños”, Colombia’s largest neo-paramilitary organization, in the town of El Aguila, in Valle del Cauca state.
The detainees, among which was the head of the group, Angel Maria Betancourt, alias “Picardy”, are accused of murder, drug trafficking, extortion and causing forced displacement in El Aguila and surrounding areas.
The army statement reported that, “Picardy” was responsible for the murder of a women being extorted by the group. When she refused to pay, he reportedly threw a hand grenade into her house, which killed her.
The Urabeños are among more than 30 criminal groups, also known as “Bacrim,” that emerged following the 2006 demobilization of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the country’s main right-wing paramilitary organization.
Since then, they have become Colombia’s “last standing” neo-paramilitary organization, according to Insight Crime.
MORE: Urabeños ‘last standing’ neo-paramilitary group in Colombia: Report
Sources
- Cae banda criminal de los Urabeños, el terror del norte del Valle del Cauca (National Army Press Release)