A recently captured leader of the guerilla group FARC was deported to Colombia from Ecuador on Tuesday, Colombia media report.
Fabio Ramirez Artunduaga, alias “Danilo,” leader of FARC’s 48th Front, was arrested with a female partner in the capital of Ecuador on Sunday for failing to show proper identification to authorities.
A judge approved the extraditions of Danilo and his companion, Yanenci Hoyos, on the grounds that they were undocumented immigrants on Ecuadorean soil.
“We will not allow illegal people to operate in our country; whether right, left, center, up, or down. Illegal groups will not be allowed to operate on Ecuadorean soil,” President of Ecuador Rafael Correa told the media.
Authorities said Danilo snuck into Ecuador to receive medical attention. One Ecuadorean police officer believes Danilo was also in Quito to trade arms and buy uniforms for the FARC, however, reports conflict as to whether or not he was there on official business.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos expressed his gratitude for the capture of Danilo and for the cooperation of Ecuadorean authorities.
“…the collaboration of the government of Ecuador [with Colombia] is what we need for the criminals to know that nowhere will be safe.”