BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's armed forces have captured Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, in the biggest blow to drug trafficking in the Andean country since the death of Pablo Escobar, President Ivan Duque said.
Otoniel, 50 , was captured during operation Osiris in a rural area of Colombia's Uraba region, located in Antioquia province. He is accused of sending dozens of shipments of cocaine to the U.S. & Duque said he is also accused of killing cops, recruiting minors & sexually abusing children among other crimes.
Colombia had offered a reward of up to 3 billion pesos (about $800,000) for information concerning Otoniel's whereabouts, while the U.S. government had put up a reward of $5 million for help locating him.
"This is the biggest blow against drug trafficking in our country this century," Duque said during a broadcast video message. "This blow is only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar in the 1990s."
One police officer died during the operation.
Otoniel rose to become the leader of the drug trafficking group the Clan del Golfo, or Gulf Clan, following stints as a left-wing guerrilla & later as a paramilitary.
Clan del Golfo has around 1,200 armed men - the majority former members of far-right paramilitary groups & is present in 10 of Colombia's 32 provinces.
As well as drug trafficking, Clan del Golfo is involved with illegal mining, authorities say. The government also accuses the group of threatening & killing community leaders across the country.
#otoniel #otonielcaptured #otonieldrugkingpin #otonielbustedincolombia #dairoantoniousuga #dairoantoniousugacaptured #otonielcocainekingpin #colombia #manhunt #usa $5milliondollarreward #murder #homicide #childpredator #tocatchapredator #drugkingpin #soldiers #cops #policeofficers #clandelgolfo #gulfclan #coke #pabloescobar #ivanduque #cia
Follow Me
}
Comments