Colombian authorities have set rewards for between two and five billion pesos (up to US$250,000) for leaders of eight criminal gangs that are the most active in the country.
Police are after eight individuals who became heads of criminal organisations after the demobilization of paramilitary groups, and who are involved in extortion, drug trafficking and kidnapping.
Among the most wanted is Juan de Dios Usura David, also known as Giovany, head of the Urabeños gang, who took over after ‘Don Mario’ was captured.
‘Sebastian’ is considered to be head of the Paisas gang, and is also recovery leader of Envigado, and Pedro ‘Cuchillo’ Oliverio Guerrero is head of the ERPAC Army, which operates in the departments of Meta and Vichada.
Luis ‘Comba’ Calle Serna is the head of the Rastrojos gang and would be the owner of the millions of dollars seized in Buenaventura.
Also wanted is ‘Roque’, head of the Magdalena Medio gang, and ‘el Tigre’, boss of the Nueva Generación gang, which has already lost three of its leaders.
In Choco, authorities are looking for ‘Raul’, chief of the Renacer gang. And finally, police are also following Hilbert ‘Don’ Urdinola Perea, member of the Urdinola clan active in Valle del Cauca and head of Los Machos, which is virtually extinct due to persecution by Los Rastrojos, which operates in the same area.
Specialist teams are tracking every leader to ensure his capture.