Colombia's most wanted drug lord Otoniel captured

[Jilly_in_VA]

Colombia's most wanted drug trafficker and the leader of the country's largest criminal gang has been captured.

Dairo Antonio Úsuga, better known as Otoniel, was seized after a joint operation by the army, air force and police on Saturday.

The government had offered a $800,000 (£582,000) reward for information about his whereabouts, while the US placed a $5m bounty on his head.

President Iván Duque hailed Otoniel's capture in a televised video message.

"This is the biggest blow against drug trafficking in our country this century," he said. "This blow is only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar in the 1990s."

Otoniel was captured in his rural hideout in Antioquia province in north-western Colombia, close to the border with Panama.

The operation involved 500 soldiers supported by 22 helicopters. One police officer was killed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59026214

[Judi Lynn]

1. 'You beat me': Colombia's most-wanted drug lord caught

By Luis Jaime Acosta and Oliver Griffin

October 25, 2021
1:24 AM CDT
Last Updated an hour ago

3 minute read

Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, was caught by Colombia's armed forces during an operation in a rural area of Colombia's Uraba region, Antioquia province, which involved more than 500 members of Colombia's special forces and 22 helicopters, officials said on Saturday.

Otoniel is accused of exporting hundreds of tonnes of cocaine each year, while President Ivan Duque said on Saturday he is also responsible for killing police officers, recruiting minors and sexually abusing children.

Colombia's government will file a petition on Monday with the Andean country's Supreme Court to extradite Otoniel to the United States, Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz told Reuters on Sunday, adding the process could take four weeks to complete.

"Extradition awaits all those who commit international crimes," Defense Minister Diego Molano told journalists in Necocli, close to where Otoniel, 50, was captured.

More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombias-priority-is-extradite-drug-lord-otoniel-united-states-sources-2021-10-24/