Colombia: Top drug kingpin captured in major military operation in Antioquia Oct. 23

Event

Colombian authorities captured the nation's most-wanted drug kingpin, Dairo Antonio Usuga, in a major police and military operation in San Pedro de Uraba, Antioquia Department, Oct. 23. Usuga is the leader of the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia, AGC), the country's largest illegal armed group and most powerful drug-trafficking organization.

Context

Also known as the Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo), the AGC was formed by former members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) paramilitary organization who refused to demobilize under a peace agreement reached between the government and the AUC. As the founder and leader of the AGC, Usuga was widely considered by officials to be the most wanted man in the country. Under his leadership, the AGC ran large-scale cocaine production operations throughout much of Colombia, exerted significant influence over the nation's ports - which the organization used to traffick cocaine - and killed government officials, security personnel, and the leaders of civil-society groups.