Colombian authorities have sliced another head off the Hydra like Clan del Gulfo organisation. Months after capturing the leader Otoniel, Colombian authorities have captured El Viejo. El Viejo was reported the military leader of a Clan del Gulfo structure which operated in the Colombian regions of Antioquia, Sucre, Bolívar and Magdalena (primarily in the North of the country.)  

The military operation which led to El Viejo’s capture also saw authorities seize a submachine gun, three pistols and a large amount of money. Three other members of the Clan del Gulfo were also arrested.Colombia’s military commander called this “another blow to the Clan del Gulfo” on Twitter. The illicit group emerged from the ashes of Colombia’s far right paramilitay groups and rose to become one of Colombia’s most powerful criminal organisations. The group is primarily focused on global cocaine trafficking, and is said to have alliances with numerous global criminal networks, including Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Balkan drug trafficking groups. The group has spread its presence across the country and is now in control of drug producing zones and drug trafficking routes. 

Nuevo golpe al Clan del Golfo con la captura en Frontino de alias el Viejo o Felipe, presunto cabecilla militar de la subestructura Edwin Román Velásquez, quien tendría circular azul de Interpol. Operación de acción ofensiva de tropas de @Ejercito_Div7 con @PoliciaColombia. pic.twitter.com/iMieYXWGtb

— Gral. Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro Altamiranda (@COMANDANTE_EJC) March 27, 2022