Authorities captured an alleged leader of drug trafficking organization “Los Rastrojos” in northeastern Colombia Thursday, reported Radio Caracol.
Héctor Jairo Bermúdez Ríos, known as “El Paisa,” was reportedly in charge of local operations, including extortion and assasinations, for Colombia’s largest drug cartel in the Catatumbo region along the Venezuelan border.
“El Paisa” was wanted for several crimes including conspiracy, extortion and theft.
“For about eight months, since we began collecting information about the suspect, his main criminal activities have included the transport of drugs, consumable chemicals, trafficking combustible materials, this was his main work as the commander of Los Rastrojos,” said Lt. Col. Eliecer Camacho Jimenez, police commander of the Norte de Santander department.
The mountainous region is considered a hotbed of the left-wing FARC, ELN and EPL guerrilla groups, as well as major crime syndicates like “Los Urabeños” and “Los Rastrojos.”