Colombia: At least 9 killed in Clan del Golfo cartel raid
Nine deaths were recorded during an operation against the Clan del Golfo, the cartel responsible for trafficking 30% of the country's cocaine exports.
At least nine people were killed Tuesday in northwestern Colombia during an army raid on the Clan del Golfo, the Andean country's largest cocaine cartel, whose leader was arrested in October.
According to the Athenian and Macedonian News Agency, the operation started yesterday morning and was still ongoing in the afternoon, when Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano announced that "so far, nine deaths have been recorded".
The bodies were found in a rural area in the municipality of Ituango, a stronghold of the Clan del Golfo gang.
Dario leader Antonio Ushuga, also known as Otoniel, was arrested on October 23, 2021, during an operation involving 500 police and soldiers.
Following the arrest of Othniel, Colombia's most wanted drug trafficker, President Ivan Duque ruled that the "end" had come for the Clan del Golfo, a gang accused of smuggling 30% of the country 's cocaine.
Otoniel is being held in a Bogota prison pending extradition to the United States, where his government has offered a $ 5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The Clan del Golfo is made up of some 30 export-oriented individuals who have acted as intermediaries with other criminal organizations abroad, with a network spanning 28 countries, according to Colombian police.
