Eight arrested as Colombia drug ring dismantled

01 Dec, 2013

BOGOTA: Colombian police dismantled a cocaine and heroin network trafficking drugs to the United States, arresting eight people including its leader, authorities said Sunday.

According to a report by the Colombian police narcotics division, the US Drug Enforcement Administration participated in the operation.

Among those captured was Giovanni Molina, head of the network and a contact for the Los Urabenos gang. Arrests were made across multiple cities and departments.

Los Urabenos is partially composed of former Colombian paramilitary members and is regarded by authorities as one of the most dangerous drug-trafficking organizations in the country.

During months of investigation, police seized 883 kilos of cocaine, two kilos of heroin and 90 kilos of marijuana, immobilized seven automobiles and captured 17 other people.

An April report by Colombia's Center for Integrated Intelligence said that Los Urabenos has grown to 2,366 members, up from 1,970 members in 2012.

Colombia produced a total of 309 tons of cocaine in 2012 according to the latest report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which ranked Colombia and Peru as the world's leading producers.

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