Colombia’s anti-narcotics police said Saturday Medellin-based crime syndicate “Oficina de Envigado” assassinated two policemen in that city.
The two policemen were shot Thursday in broad daylight in front of one of Medellin’s main tourist attractions while waiting for a source.
“From the moment we heard of this vile act we began a special intelligence operation to clarify who have been the masterminds of this double crime. Based on this we have been able to establish that the order to kill [the officials] was given by leaders of the Oficina,” General Luis Alberto Perez, director of the National Police’s anti-narcotics unit, told press present at the funeral of the officials.
According to Perez, the assassination was to retaliate the investigation carried our by the policemen.
The police general did not reveal if suspects in the case have been arrested.
The Oficina de Envigado was created by Pablo Escobar in the late 1980s and integrated into paramilitary organization AUC by “Don Berna,” a key member of anti-Escobar paramilitary group “Los Pepes” who later became one of the top commanders of the AUC. Following Don Berna’s extradition to the U.S. and internal fighting, the group is now led by “Sebastian” and in control of approximately 90% of Medellin’s drug dealing and extortion business.