One of the main leaders of the narco-trafficking group “Los Paisas,” allegedly responsible for the alliance between his gang and fellow drug traffickers “Los Rastrojos,” has been captured by police in Cordoba, El Colombiano reports Tuesday.
Jeison John Jaraba, alias “Yeye,” was arrested in the municipality of Planeta Rica, in the northern department of Cordoba. Officials stated that he maintained a criminal presence in at least ten other municipalities.
“Los Paisas” were formed largely from former mid-level paramilitaries, following the flawed demobilization process under former President Alvaro Uribe.
“Los Rastrojos,” meanwhile, despite containing many former paramilitaries too, primarily formed out of the drug trafficking Norte del Valle Cartel and have risen to become one of the most feared criminal organizations in Colombia through various alliances with other groups, including left-wing guerrillas.
According to Caracol, Yeye is also the principal enemy of Roberto Vargas Gutierrez, alias “Gavilan,” a leader of neo-paramilitary group “Los Urabeños,” who is wanted for the assassination of two affluent Bogota students earlier this year.
President Santos welcomed the capture of Yeye, noting that it demonstrates how the country’s “democratic security continues advancing.”
“Congratulations to the National Police for the capture of the head of the gang “Los Paisas” in Cordoba,” he added.
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