The relatives of demobilized paramilitary bosses are picking up where their predecessors left off by forming new criminal groups, according to Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.
Sons and nephews have inherited the drug trafficking routes, chains of command and enemies from their extradited paramilitary relatives, according to intelligence El Tiempo claims to have received.
El Tiempo cites cases such as that of Hernan Giraldo Ochoa, alias ‘Rambo’, the son of AUC leader Hernan Giraldo Serna who was extradited to the U.S. in May 2008. Ochoa was arrested three days ago in Santa Marta for arms trafficking, extortion and homicide. 20 year old ‘Rambo’ allegedly began his criminal life at the age of 12.
According to the Prosecutor General ‘Rambo’ was one of the leaders of ‘Los Nevados’, the gang that purportedly took over from ‘Los Mellizos’ following their demobilization four years ago. El Tiempo also maintains that Serna’s daughter is involved with ‘Los Nevados’.
Police are also reportedly investigating links between the cousins of demobilized paramilitary leader Ramon Isaza, alias ‘Macaco’, with criminal groups from the pacific and Los Llanos regions.
Similarly, Roberto Prada Delgado, the nephew of ex-paramilitary leader ‘Juancho Prada’, was arrested earlier this year. Authorities allege that he was in charge of a new gang that controlled the same region formerly controlled by his uncle.