Colombian authorities deal major blows to the structure of narco-gangs around the country, including two Wednesday raids that have captured top henchmen and criminals wanted for extradition to the United States.
The Prosecutor General’s Technical Investigation Team captured 27 criminals in Bogota wanted for extradition to the United States reported El Espectador Wednesday.
No names of the captured have been released but reports say that within the next several hours all will be presented in front of a Bogota judge.
A report from RCN radio indicated that the DEA might have been involved in the operations and as many as 29 persons wanted for extradition in the US have been captured.
The captures follow a wave of arrests throughtout Colombia that started last Thursday. In multiple police actions, 12 heads of the powerful narco-trafficking organization “Los Rastrojos” were captured in the lower Cauca region in northern Antioquia, the director of National Police, General Oscar Naranjo, said on W Radio.
“The detainees received direct orders from Angel de Jesus Pacheco Chancy, also known as ‘Sebastian.’ and who, from the criminal gang ‘Los Paisas,’ transitioned to ‘Los Rastrojos‘ to dispute control of routes, cultivations and profits of the group ‘Los Urabeños’ led by the brothers Dario Antonio and Juan de Dios Usaga,” said Naranjo.
Among the captured Rastrojos are financial and trafficking boss Carlos Vergara alias “Servi,” boss of hit men Ruben Dario Gil alias “Vicente” and the cousin of Sebastian, Carlos Mario Pacheco alias “Pacheco.”
On Monday, Sebastian’s son, alias “Virel” was arrested in the municipality of Bello, north of Medellin, along with 24 alleged members of the local “La Camila” gang.
Operations against criminal groups have increased in the past month and results are showing. W Radio reported that 212 gang members have been captured so far this May, 14 of which are wanted for extradition.
So far this year authorities claim to have captured 1,090 narco-gang members seizing 3.8 tons of narcotics, reported El Espectador.