According to foreign media reports, on October 23, local time, the Colombian government successfully arrested the country's number one drug lord, Dairo Antonio Úsuga. On the same day, the Colombian government released footage of Ursuga's arrest.
Footage of Colombia's number one drug lord Ursuga when he was arrested. Graph network
It is reported that according to the intelligence provided by the United States and the United Kingdom, the joint search and arrest operation sent more than 500 special forces and police officers, used 22 helicopters, more than 10 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, etc., and finally arrested Usuga, who was hiding in the tropical rainforest. During the operation, a police officer of the Colombian Government was killed in the line of duty.
Colombian President Ivan Duke celebrated the victory on television broadcasts, saying "the most feared drug dealer on the planet" had finally been caught, and the operation was the country's most significant victory in the drug crackdown of the century. Duke also demanded that criminals, including drug lords, voluntarily surrender or face annihilation.
Break through the 8 layers of "vigilance protection"
Brother's number one drug lord will be tried in the United States
Two weeks ago, British and American intelligence agents identified the drug lord Ursuga's hiding place in the forest outside Cokley in antioquia province in northwestern Colombia.
After close deployment, at about 5 a.m. local time on the 22nd, the search team began to enter the forest and launch a surprise attack. Meanwhile, Colombian naval vessels lurked off the coast of the Caribbean Sea, setting up a blockade on the periphery to ensure they could not wade through the waters to escape.
Ursuga's hiding place is said to have 8 layers of "vigilance protection". At about 3 p.m. local time on the 23rd, the commandos broke through the security line. A special forces sergeant spotted the topless Ursuga who was trying to hide under a pile of branches and bushes.
The Colombian government announced the picture of Ursuga's arrest on the same day. In the picture, Ursuga, dressed in black and black pants and water shoes, and handcuffed hands, is escorted to a military base in Necoclair of the Colombian government.
The Colombian government announced on October 23 that the country's most wanted drug lord, Ursuga, had been arrested. Graph network
Ursuga, 50, is the leader of Colombia's largest drug cartel, the Gulf Gang, in the Gulf Bay in northern Colombia, where he runs drugs in the Gulf of Uraba in northern Colombia, smuggling drugs to places like the United States and Europe.
According to Colombian police, the Gulf Gang currently has about 1,200 members, and its drug smuggling activities have killed more than 200 members of the Colombian security forces. In addition, the drug cartel is suspected of extortion, illegal mining, and threatening and killing community leaders across Colombia.
The Colombian government said Ursuga would be extradited to the United States for trial. Ursuga was reportedly on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) wanted list, which offered a $5 million reward for insiders to provide clues. As early as 2003, federal courts in Brooklyn and Miami had accused them of smuggling at least 73 tons of cocaine into the United States.
132 arrest warrants, nearly 10 years of pursuit
The Colombian president demanded that other criminals voluntarily surrender
Prior to Ursuga's arrest, colombian authorities pursued him for about 10 years, issuing a total of 132 arrest warrants. However, due to The frequent changes of hiding places in Ursuga, the arrest operation has not been successful.
The data shows that Colombia accounts for about 70% of the world's cocaine production, and its illegal production and sales chain has always been the target of the Colombian government, and with the recent surge in cocaine production, the Colombian government decided to increase the crackdown on drug trafficking gangs.
Colombian President Duque reportedly took office in 2018 and has been working to crack down on the country's drug cartels since taking office. He compared the arrest to the arrest of "drug king" Pablo Escobar, calling it the most significant victory of Colombia's drug crackdown of the century.
Escobar is said to be "Colombia's most arrogant drug lord ever." During the most rampant period of drug trafficking, almost 80 per cent of the world's cocaine trade was controlled. Its drug cartel is heavily indebted, and foreign media reports say Escobar is carrying about 6,000 lives. In 1993, after a protracted pursuit, the Colombian military and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration finally killed him.
Escobar, "Colombia's most arrogant drug lord ever created," has directed hundreds of drug dealers to storm the Colombian Ministry of Justice buildings with arms and openly confront the military and police. Graph network
Now, with Ursuga in the net, Duke demands that other criminals, including drug lords, voluntarily surrender or face annihilation. On the other hand, experts believe that Colombia's rampant drug trafficking has now become more fragmented and will not be greatly reduced with The arrest of Ursuga.
"It doesn't mean that the form of the fight against drugs has changed dramatically, and Ursuga will be replaced by someone else." Sergio Guzman, from Bogotá's Colombian risk analysis firm, said, "When the 'boss' fell, someone was ready to take over. ”
Red Star News reporter Wang Yalin intern reporter Ding Wen
Edited by Li Binbin
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