Colombian security forces have arrested Dairo Antonio Úsuga alias “Otoniel”, the chief of the Colombian drug cartel “Clan del Golfo” (Gulf Clan) and one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the South American country. “It is the most decisive blow to the drug trafficking in this century,” said Colombian President Iván Duque in a press conference on Saturday (local time).
Duque compared the Úsuga arrest to the case of Pablo Escobar in the 1990s. The legendary drug lord died in 1993 during a police operation over the roofs of Medellín. The security forces involved in the Úsuga arrest were clearly proud of their success. The photos show how they take selfies with the arrested person in the helicopter with which the drug lord was brought to Bogotá after his arrest.
Security forces involved in the arrest take selfies with the arrested drug lord.
(Photo: COLOMBIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY / via REUTERS)
Úsaga, better known as “Otoniel”, was arrested in his jungle hiding place in the Uraba region in the north-west of the country, shown in handcuffs in public and taken to Bogotá by helicopter. “‘Otoniel’ was the most feared drug lord in the world, a killer of police officers, soldiers and local activists and has recruited children,” said Colombian President Duque at the press conference. His arrest would mean the end of the Gulf clan. At the same time, Duque, a hardliner, called on the remaining members to either face up or “feel the full weight of the law.”
Úsuga was caught after almost ten years, during which he was hunted by a special unit of the security forces, moving between luxury life and constant change of location, often in the jungle. Operation “Osiris”, which ultimately led to his arrest, provided information to more than 500 members of the military, police and prosecutors in Colombia as well as the USA and Great Britain. Up to three billion pesos, the equivalent of 700,000 euros, had been exposed in Colombia for clues leading to his whereabouts and his arrest. The US government had offered five billion dollars for it.
In addition to drug trafficking, Úsuga are also accused of illegal mining, racketeering and murder
In addition to drug trafficking, the 50-year-old is also accused of murder, extortion, kidnapping, conspiracy and the recruitment of minors. According to Duque, there are extradition requests against him. His “Clan del Golfo”, which emerged from right-wing paramilitaries, is one of the strongest drug organizations in Colombia, which is responsible for the tons of smuggling of cocaine into Central and North America in particular. He is also involved in illegal mining and extortion, and is responsible for numerous murders and evictions.
Colombia has suffered civil war between the armed forces, left-wing guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitaries for more than 50 years. More than 220,000 people were killed and millions were displaced within Colombia. The largest rebel organization, Farc, signed a peace treaty with the government in 2016. The security situation in the South American country has improved since then. But the peace is fragile five years after the agreement: the smaller guerrilla group ELN is still active; Thousands of former FARC fighters and criminal syndicates such as the Gulf Clan, who have ventured into the vacuum created, are also engaged in armed battles among themselves, with the police and the armed forces.