Authorities in central Colombia arrested the first alleged member of ERPAC who, together with 268 other alleged drug traffickers, was surprisingly released immediately after his surrender Friday.
The suspect was arrested on charges of conspiracy, drug trafficking, forced displacement and forced disappearance.
The alleged ERPAC member was released after his surrender to authorities last week despite admitting to being a member of one of Colombia’s most feared criminal organizations.
The mass release of demobilized members of ERPAC caused a storm of criticism and became an embarrassment for the Colombian government and Prosecutor General’s Office who had negotiated the demobilization while vowing the members had to pay for their crimes.
Following the release of nearly all ERPAC members, prosecutors issued arrest warrants for the alleged neo-paramilitaries. All other demobilized members are still at large.
ERPAC is one of the largest groups formed by former members of the AUC after the paramilitary organization official demobilization in 2006.