A leader of La Oficina de Envigado, Medellin’s most powerful criminal organization, was arrested in a massive police operation against the mafia boss in the northwest of Colombia.
“The first results [for the intervention in] Medellin. Captured ‘Carlos Pesebre’, leader [of La] Oficina de Envigado, and other criminals. Congratulations,” Santos said through Twitter.
Primeros resultados intervención Medellín. Capturados “Carlos Pesebre”, cabecilla Oficina de Envigado, y otros delicuentes. Felicitaciones.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) March 19, 2013
Police captured the current leader of the Oficina, Freiner Ramirez Garcia alias “Carlos Pesebre,” Tuesday morning in the municipality of Urrao, Antioquia west of the capital Medellin.
According to newspaper El Colombiano, Ramirez’s physical appearance did not match the images the National Police had of the drug lord, forcing them to use other methods of identification.
According to police sources, Ramirez controlled criminal operations within the Comuna 7, 12 and 13 districts of the city. Preliminary reports suggest that the fallen kingpin had around 500 under his command.
Carlos Pesebre didn’t last long as the leader of Medellin’s most powerful crime syndicate – the previous leader, Edison Rodolfo Rojas, alias “Pichi,” was recently captured in Panama, in February 2013.
MORE: Medellin’s top crime boss arrested in Panama
The breakthrough comes only a day after the National Police Director, Jose Roberto Leon Riaño, arrived to the city to direct police efforts in combating rising crime. The city has seen a 21.2% homicide increase over the the first two months of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.
MORE: Santos transfers police director to Medellin to combat violence
Despite La Oficina de Envigado’s continued dominance over Medellin’s criminal underworld, the organization has become increasingly unstable due to internal factional disputes, rival gangs encroaching on their territory and the the apprehension of key figures by authorities.
MORE: More dead in massacre of Medellin crime bosses: El Tiempo
Sources
- Así cayó alias “Carlos Pesebre”, cabecilla de “la Oficina” (El Colombiano)
- Capturado alias ‘Carlos Pesebre’, jefe de la oficina de Envigado (El Espectador)
- Capture of Colombian Micro-trafficker highlights importance of domestic market (Insight Crime)
- Homicidios en Medellin aumentaron un 21% (De la Urbe)
