The Venezuelan government has confirmed the capture of a high level commander of the Colombian drug trafficking gang “Los Rastrojos,” Caracol Radio reported Monday.
Ruberney Vergara Sanabria, alias “Maniquemao,” was caught by Venezuelan authorities in the border region of Tachira.
According to authorities, Maniquemao is a leader of Los Rastrojos, which mainly controls the drug trade on the west coast of Colombia, but also has presence in one third of the country’s 32 departments.
A report from 2009 by Colombian newspaper El Tiempo named Vergara on a list of enemies of the state and placed the reward for his capture at $550,000. At that time, he was reported as a leader of the neo-paramilitary organization “Aguilas Negras.”
The Colombian government issued a “red notice” with Interpol, which allowed foreign countries to participate in the capture of the man wanted for drug trafficking, kidnapping and homicide.
Extradition proceedures between the two countries involved in the case are currently being discussed.