300 members of neo-paramilitary group ERPAC, including supreme leader “Caracho” have surrendered to authorities in the central Colombian Meta department, local media reported Saturday.
Caracho turned himself in together with subordinates Oscar Fabian Guerrero, alias “Caribe,” German Ramirez, alias “Vacafiada,” Buenaventura Asprilla, alias “Chorillano,” and Luis Antonio Rincón, alias ‘El Pajaro.”
With the surrender of the five leaders and some 300 fighters, the demobilization of the ERPAC faction led by Caracho came to an end. It remains unclear how many fighters of the estimated 1,200-men strong neo-paramilitary army remain did not take part in the demobilization and remain active in the east of Colombia.
Initially, Carocho told newspaper El Tiempo that 450 members of ERPAC would be surrendering to authorities.
“It may be just Caracho’s faction of the ERPAC which is demobilizing. There is reportedly another faction loyal to another paramilitary leader. So that probably explains why just 400 out of 1,200 guys are demobilizing. That ERPAC faction will probably stay in the Eastern Plains and keep on trafficking drugs,” Elyssa Pachico of organized crime website InSight Crime told Colombia Reports Thursday.
“Meanwhile you have alleged paramilitary, Victor Carranza, who always hated the ERPAC and another old timer, Hector German Buitrago, alias “Martin Llanos,” who used to work in Casanare and who also hates the ERPAC. I think if there’s going to be fighting over the Llanos, it’s going to originate in the Llanos.”
ERPAC was formed in 2006 by former AUC commander Pedro Oliverio Guerrero, alias “Cuchillo,” who integrated other members of the AUC’s Bloque Centaurus into his private army primarily dedicated to drug trafficking in the departartments of Meta and Casanare. Cuchillo was killed by armed forces in December 2010.