The boss was extradited to the US, the Colombian gang blocked the whole area

Colombian soldiers stand guard on a road after the Gulf Clan torched many vehicles in the Yarumal area on May 6 – Photo: AFP

The Gulf Clan paramilitary gunmen declared an “armed attack” and set up roadblocks, blocking all traffic, burning cars, forcing businesses to close… People were banned from going out. out of the house, even to buy food.

“There’s no one around because they burn every vehicle they see on the road. It’s horrible,” a local activist told the newspaper. Guardian May 8th.

Since the middle of last week, the Gulf Clan has closed many cities and villages across northern Colombia in retaliation for the extradition to the US of its former leader, Dairo Antonio Usuga, also known as Otoniel.

Otoniel is accused of a series of drug trafficking charges in the US and more than 120 crimes in Colombia, from murder, kidnapping for ransom, child molestation to terrorism and drug trafficking.

“The government has no control here, gangs can riot and destabilize the area at any time. Communities are closed, buses are burned and no one is allowed to leave their homes.” , a community leader in the province of Cordoba said.

“We’re the prisoners, not Otoniel,” one resident lamented.

Dairo boss Antonio Usuga, also known as Otoniel, was extradited to the US on 4-5 – Photo: AFP

The Gulf Clan threatened that the “armed attack” would last for days and that they were not responsible for any consequences. This gang with about 2,000 members specializes in making a living by drug trafficking, kidnapping, human trafficking, forced child labor… They are the largest gang in Colombia, transporting 60% of the country’s cocaine production. The biggest drug in the world.

In response, the Colombian government launched an “anti-terrorist” operation, but in reality it was mainly about removing roadblocks.

Analysts say the gang’s rebellion shows a problem with Colombia’s anti-drug strategy: focusing only on catching the bosses and ignoring the network of criminals living in the community.

“Beheading them with high-level and large-scale arrests like the capture of boss Otoniel has no effect on their organization. In fact, they continue to exert a high degree of control over society, extorting money, inhibiting rape in areas they hold or dispute,” said analyst Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group. As for the Gulf Clan, after Otoniel was arrested, his two deputy generals came to power this gang.