Colombian authorities said Friday that security forces killed one of the most senior members of drug cartel “Los Rastrojos” in the southwest of the country.
Carlos Enrique Salazar, a.k.a. “Guerrero” (Warrior) and “El Negro Guerrero” (The Black Warrior), died in a shootout with police in Riofrio, a municipality in the north of the Cauca department located on a crucial drug trafficking route to the Pacific Ocean.
Guerrero was one of the remaining leaders of the Rastrojos, who over the past two years have suffered considerable territorial losses to their rivals “Los Urabeños.”
PROFILE: Los Rastrojos
PROFILE: Los Urabeños
The eccentric drug trafficker, known for his beaded dreadlocks, was killed in the Garrapatas valley where he and some of his men had found themselves surrounded by state forces.
The drug trafficker’s death was celebrated by President Juan Manuel Santos on Twitter.
Dimos de baja -en Riofrío- a alias “Negro Guerrero”, jefe de Los Rastrojos, responsable de extorsión en el norte del Valle.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) July 19, 2013
Guerrero began his outlaw career in 2002 when he joined paramilitary organization AUC and was active in the southern Putumayo department.
PROFILE: AUC
The Bloque Central Bolivar to which Guerrero belonged had strong ties to the newly formed Rastrojos and, when the AUC demobilized between 2003 and 2006, Guerrero started working for the Comba brothers, the now-jailed founders of the drug cartel.
El Negro Guerrero was in control of some of Colombia’s most important drug trafficking routed and feared for being bloodthirsty.
Sources
- Santos confirma muerte de alias Guerrero, líder de ‘los Rastrojos’ en el Cañón de Garrapatas (El Pais)
- Exclusivo: la única entrevista que el capo dio en vida (Semana)
