Police in Bogota said Wednesday they have arrested a top commander of neo-paramilitary organization “Los Urabeños” who was in charge of the group’s activity in and around Cali.
The arrested “Martin Bala” is the son of Fernando Varon, a former member of the Cali cartel that ran a large part of Colombia’s drug trafficking business in the 1990.
Colombia’s National Police told press that Bala was in charge of recent violence in the Valle del Cauca department where the Urabeños are seemingly moving into territory traditionally controlled by their rivals, Cali-based drug gang “Los Rastrojos.”
According to newspaper El Tiempo, Bala used to work with “Don Diego,” an extradited former boss of the Norte del Valle Cartel who fell out with rival capo “Jabon” who later went on to form the Rastrojos from his enforcement army.
In spite of his reputation, Bala was only wanted by police over a charge relating to the illegal carrying of firearms.
His arrest took place in one of the capital’s most upscale neighborhoods where the alleged drug lord had been living for the past six months.
Newspaper El Tiempo reported that the United States are interested in requesting the suspected drug lord’s extradition.
The arrest of Bala is the third blow against the Urabeños in Colombia’s Pacific region. On Monday, authorities announced the arrest of “Guarcharco,” the neo-paramilitary group’s alleged ringleader in Choco. Only weeks before, the alleged commander of the Urabeños controlling their drug trafficking along the entire Pacific coast was arrested.
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