Colombian police arrested a FARC commander accused of running more than half of the rebel organization’s drug activities.
The director of the National Police, General Rodolfo Palomino confirmed the capture of “Richard,” the leader of the FARC’s 30th Front, on Twitter.
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Richard, whose official name is Martin Leonel Perez, is accused of being the FARC’s “capo,” said Palomino.
The unit commander and one of the financial officers of the FARC was found at a luxurious home in the rural area of Alcala, a municipality in the western Valle del Cauca state, after police tracked him for at least several months.
Alcala, Valle del Cauca
The director of the National Police told reporters that special forces were waiting for the rebel leader to arrive at the farm where he was supposed to meet with members of his family. He was arrested along with four of his subordinates.
Searching the estate, police discovered $857,000 in cash.
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Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon was quoted by Radio Santa Fe as saying that the arrest of the leader is of huge importance, as drug trafficking is one of the largest financiers of the guerrilla group.
Richard replaced former 30th Front commander Jose Velasco Naphtali, alias ‘Mincho’, who was killed in October 2011.
Sources
- Capturan al jefe del frente 30 de las Farc (El Tiempo)
- Cae alias ‘Richard’, el capo de las Farc (El Espectador)
- Cayó en poder de la Policía alais “Richard”, cabecilla del frente 30 de las Farc; tenía en su poder $ 1.650 milliones (Radio Santa Fe)