Feared Drug Lord Arrested While Asleep With Bodyguards

Story ByMaja Mishevksa, Sub EditorMarija StojkoskaAgencyNewsflash

CEN/@DIJINPolicia

This is the moment one of Colombia’s most feared drug lords is arrested after reportedly being found asleep next to his bodyguards.

Jose Albeiro Arrigui Jimenez, alias ‘Contador’, was arrested in the southern Colombian department of Caqueta after the authorities followed him for several days, according to local media.

Reports said the 29-year-old detainee is the successor of former drug lord Walter Patricio Arizala Vernaza, alias ‘Guacho’, and had an arrest warrant for 148,000 USD (114,430 GBP) to catch him.

CEN/@DIJINPolicia

Colombian president Ivan Duque said on Twitter: “This criminal is responsible for the murder of social leader and former members of FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). He was being followed for a while.”

Arrigui Jimenez is accused of leading the ‘Los Contadores’ gang which reportedly controls 70 percent of all drug trafficking activities in the southwest of the country.

The gang is suspected of trafficking narcotics to Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala before being sent to its final destination in the United States.

According to the local authorities, Arrigui Jimenez had around 200 men under his supervision and the group also funded dissidents of the Oliver Sinisterra Front against gangs controlled by a man nicknamed ‘Gentil Duarte’, who was the first FARC guerrilla member to abandon the peace process with the Colombian government.

Arrigui Jimenez also has an extradition warrant from the United States, but it is unclear whether he will be sent there to face trial, according to reports.

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