A drug lord arrested at his own wedding asked guests to give money to poor colombian children instead of giving gifts.
In their wedding invitation, former neo-paramilitary commander Camilo Torres, alias “Fritanga,” and his wife, model Diana Lucia Salazar, asked guests for envelopes of cash which the couple reportedly wanted to pass on to the Medellin-based charity Fundacion Carla Christina.
“On this day we want to share our love and happiness with the children of the Fundacion Carla Cristina … your donation will be our big gift … to 6000 children who are part of the foundation …,” the bride and groom said in the invitation.
Monica Echeverry, director of the Fundacion Carla Cristina, told El Espectador she was approached by an event agency informing her that a couple decided to donate their wedding gifts to the charity.
“They said it was a young couple who had everything and wanted to support our cause. The only condition they put upon us was to certify the donation of each individual contributor,” added Echeverry.
Fritanga was arrested on charges of drug trafficking during his June 30 star-studded lavish wedding ceremony that was intended to last a week. Colombian vallenato stars, models and actresses attended the $1.4 million event. Local media reported that seven U.S. citizens, four of them alleged to be policemen, were among the guests.
Later reports suggested that the men were Puerto Rican citizens in the music industry and had arrived with Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Arcangel. The U.S. State Department released a statement saying it was investigating the identities of the men, but that they were not part of any government agency.
Fritanga is alleged by Colombian police to be a top operative for the notorious drug trafficking organization, “Los Urabeños.” He reportedly ranks below the group’s leader, Henry de Jesus Lopez, alias “Mi Sangre,” and supposedly oversaw operations from the coasts of Antioquia and Choco departments.