Colombian authorities have captured FARC member and alleged arms and drug trafficker alias “El Indio,” the brother-in-law of alias “Gafas,” responsible for kidnapping three American contractors.
According to Director of Citizen Security Jose Roberto Leon Riaño, Aurelio Vasquez Serrano, alias “El Indio,” was arrested while traveling towards Buenaventura, northwest of Cali on the Pacific Coast, on a public bus, with the alleged objective of “exploring drug trafficking routes,” newspaper El Tiempo reported Thursday.
According to police, El Indio was an arms supplier for the FARC’s 36th front, operating mainly out of the department of Antioquia, and 38th front operating mainly out of the Voyaca and Casanare departments, and also negotiated exchanges of cocaine for arms for the organization.
He is also a family member of FARC member alias “Gafas,” currently serving 19 years in prison after being arrested in the military’s Operation Checkmate, in which three U.S. contractors and the now infamous Ingrid Betancourt were rescued from the guerrilla organization.
El Indio was located by police after months of investigation, reportedly through a cell phone call he made from the bus, and has five arrest warrants against him for charges of terrorism, homicide, supplying weapons, extortion and drug trafficking.