Captured Colombian Drug Kingpin Had Deliveries of Refrigerated Armadillo And Used Witchcraft To Avoid Cops

A police investigation has found that a recently-captured Colombian drug lord received deliveries of refrigerated armadillo and used sorcerers and priests to get protection from arrest.

Otoniel, who was the leader of the notorious Clan del Golfo drug cartel, was captured in a joint operation by army, police and air force officers in the Colombian town of Necocli on Saturday, 23rd October.

The news site Pulzo reported that the police investigation allowed them to build a picture of the man even before his arrest when they found out that he had refrigerated food shipped to his hideaway that included meat ranging from chicken through to armadillo, which was his particular favourite.

Dairo Antonio Usuga known as ‘Otoniel’ (center), while being arrested. (Policia Nacional de Colombia/Newsflash)

General Jorge Luis Vargas, the director of the National Police, added that although it may seem unusual to some, armadillo meat is not considered particularly exotic in the region, as many locals eat the protected animals.

The drug kingpin also allegedly practised witchcraft with the hope that it would protect him from getting arrested.

The general said that he would hedge his bets on where to get mystical protection and would visit both sorcerers and priests for protection from the police and from capture.

Dairo Antonio Usuga known as ‘Otoniel’ (center), while being arrested. (Newsflash)

The Clan del Golfo has been in operation since 2001 and is involved in the Colombian armed conflict, opposing the National Liberation Army and FARC dissidents.

The gang was believed to be the most powerful criminal organisation in Colombia, with over 3,000 members and a tight grip on the country’s cocaine distribution network.

Otoniel has an extradition order pending in the United States, where he had a USD 5 million (GBP 3.6 million) bounty on his head.

Dairo Antonio Usuga known as ‘Otoniel’ (center), while being arrested. (Newsflash)

Following Otoniel’s capture, President of Colombia Ivan Duque Marquez declared: “This is the end of the Clan del Golfo”.

It is not yet clear if Otoniel will be extradited to the US.