Colombia’s prosecutor general on Tuesday began the seizure of over four million in property belonging to the former head of Medellin crime syndicate, “La Oficina de Envigado.”
Erikson Vargas Cardona, alias “Sebastian”, oversaw drug trafficking, extortion, and gambling for La Oficina de Envigado crime syndicate in Medellin, before his arrest in August 2012.
The majority of his 33 properties now controlled by authorties are located in or around Medellin. Some are listed under the names of his brother, alias “Flaco,” or other frontmen.
Also seized by police were: 14 cars and motorcycles, $386,000 in U.S. dollars and € 5,000.
Sebastian began his criminal career in the 1990s when he became a low-ranked member of Oficina de Envigado, the military wing of Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel. The cartel member joined his superior, “Don Berna,” in the Pepes, a criminal group formed to take down Escobar and his cartel, together with Colombian security forces.
PROFILE: Oficina de Envigado
After the death of Escobar, Don Berna took over the Oficina and integrated Escobar’s army into his paramilitary “Cacique Nutibara Block,” thus assuming control of the Medellin underworld, and a share in the late capo’s drug trafficking routes.
Sebastian became a top commander of the crime syndicate in 2008 following the extradition of Don Berna and a successful war with fellow Oficina commander “Valenciano,” who was later arrested in Venezuela, in 2011.
La Oficina de Envigado is considered one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Colombia. It controls most of the drug trade and extortion in Medellin.
At the moment Sebastian awaits U.S. extradition in a maximum security prison.
MORE: Arrested Medellin crime boss Sebastian to be extradited to the US
Sources
- Bienes de ‘Sebastian,’ a extincion de dominio (Semana)
- Fiscalia ocupo 33 bienes de alias ‘Sebastian’ (El Espectador)
