Authorities in central Colombia said Tuesday that they captured Eder ‘Ramon Mojana’ Pedraza Peña, leader of the paramilitary Mojana Bloc.
In a joint operation, Colombia’s anti-narcotics police and Prosecutor General’s Office investigators arrested Pedraza Peña, marking an end to ten years of his leadership of the Mojana Bloc of the AUC, which has been terrorizing the Sucre, Antioquia and Bolivar departments.
Although Pedraza Peña officially demobilized in 2005 with 109 of his men, he continued to lead the Mojana Bloc for four years, especially in crimes related to drug trafficking, reported newspaper El Espectador.
During confessions made under the Justice and Peace law, Pedraza Peña acknowledged his closeness to the late AUC founder Vicente Castaño, who promoted the activities of armed groups with the support of recognized political leaders of the region.
According to authorities, Pedraza Peña is currently charged with “more than forty different crimes, 250 murders and is linked with about 2600 criminal acts commited by the Mojana Bloc.”
The U.S. District Court in New York has also requested his extradition regarding the importation of about 20 tons of cocaine.