Story By: Amanda Morales, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

An important member of Colombia’s largest drug trafficking network nicknamed ‘The Cat’ has been caught out by his penchant for partying, and arrested by the police.

The alleged criminal identified as Giovanny Alberto ‘The Cat’ Cortes, 37, was arrested after leaving a nightclub in the city of Monteria, in Colombia’s northwestern department of Cordoba on 11th August.

Cortes, known by his aliases ‘Missi’ and ‘El Gato’ (The Cat), is believed to be in charge of managing the Gulf Clan’s drug trafficking routes from Central America to the United States and Europe.

The Gulf Clan is considered by the authorities as the largest drug trafficking network in Colombia.

According to information from local online newspaper Infobae, the alleged criminal regularly frequents nightlife venues and during coronavirus lockdown even regularly paid up to 50 million COP (10,000 GBP) to nightclubs closed to the public due to the pandemic to organise private parties for him.

Reportedly his partying habit, which became more pronounced since the recent capture of his sentimental partner identified as Arleida Patricia Manco Davis, alias ‘La Zarca’, also belonging to the gang, was finally his downfall.

According to Infobae, undercover agents managed to infiltrate the parties as part of a national operation named “Building Security” to fight against drug trafficking.

The agents knew the criminal was organising a party and set up an ambush in a nearby street to capture him with only his driver for company on Monday 10th August and thereby avoid an armed confrontation.

He is currently at judicial disposal accused of conspiracy to commit aggravated crimes as a mastermind.

According to information from the national newspaper APnoticias, Cortes was in charge of managing the clan’s drug shipments, which move between 7 and 10 tonnes of cocaine per month to the United States and the port of Antwerp, in Belgium, using different ports in Central American countries.

The drugs were allegedly shipped in “go-fast” boats and in some containers that carry fruit and other products.

According to Infobae, Cortes is also suspected of being in charge of managing the payroll of the criminal structure, which amounted to 10 billion COP (2,014,343 GBP) per week.

The case is ongoing.

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