Authorities said Monday they have arrested a suspected ringleader of the “Rastrojos” just north of Colombia’s second largest city Medellin.
The 26-year-old “Tetero” is believed to be a ringleader of Colombia’s largest drug trafficking organization in the Bajo Cauca region.
The suspect was arrested for conspiring to form illegal armed groups.
“Tetero” is also suspected of 15 homicides and one grenade attack on displaced people in the town of Caucasia between August and December last year.
According to local media, the suspect was apparently in Medellin to obtain false papers in order to leave the country.
Since the launch of “operation Troy” in January 2011, created to combat gangs in Colombia, authorities claim to have arrested more than 1,700 alleged members of drug trafficking organizations.