The leader of a major drug trafficking organization known as the "Oficina de Envigado" was arrested Wednesday in the northeastern city of Medellin, Colombian authorities said. Calling the arrest of Erikson Vargas a "death blow" to the crime group, President Juan Manuel Santos said at a news conference that he would be extradited to the United States. Police said he was taken into custody at a farm near Medellin in an operation in which another member of Vargas' group was killed and several others were also arrested. He was wanted on charges of conspiracy to murder, drug trafficking, and extortion. Vargas assumed leadership of the Envigado organization after the November 2011 arrest of its previous leader, Maximiliano Bonilla, in Venezuela. Bonilla, known as Valenciano, was extradited to the United States in December 2011. Based in the northeastern region of Antioquia, the Envigado crime group is considered one of the most potent of Colombia's drug trafficking organizations. The group was formed in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar, the notorious leader of the Medellin cartel. After his death, control of the group passed to the Self-Defense Units of Colombia, a rightwing paramilitary group that was later disbanded as part of a peace process.
GMT 16:26 2018 Wednesday ,29 August
Morocco, Cuba Start 'Unprecedented and Historic Era' in their RelationsGMT 16:13 2018 Wednesday ,29 August
Morocco, Dominican Republic Discuss Means to Promote CooperationGMT 18:51 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Tensions mount in Rohingya camps ahead of planned relocation to MyanmarGMT 18:47 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Macron shares African outrage on Trump’s vulgar languageGMT 18:41 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Jordan urges Pence to rebuild trust after Jerusalem pivotGMT 18:37 2018 Sunday ,21 January
UN Security Council to discuss Syria on MondayGMT 18:23 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Iraqi court sentences to death German woman who joined DaeshGMT 18:19 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Turkish state media say Turkey’s ground forces have entered Syrian Kurdish enclave
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor