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Urabeños News

Arrest of Paramilitary Warlord Opens Way for Urabeños

Arrest of Paramilitary Warlord Opens Way for Urabeños

The arrest of a former paramilitary leader who wielded significant power along the Caribbean coast could open the way for criminal organization the Urabeños to further consolidate their rule in the region. Read more

Urabeños Profile

The Urabeños, also known as the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces, are one of the most ambitious, ruthless and aggressively expansionist of Colombia's drug trafficking organizations. One of a number of groups made up of former mid-level paramilitary leaders, they have caused homicide rates to skyrocket wherever they have appeared.

Urabeños Areas of Influence

  • Key Members
  • Enemies
  • Allies

Otoniel

Otoniel

Dario Antonio Usuga, alias "Otoniel," has a long and bloody history of working for various... Read more

Giovanni

Giovanni

Juan de Dios Usuga headed the Urabeños' military wing while the group was under the... Read more

Chepe

Chepe

Rafael Alvarez Piñeda, alias "Chepe," demobilized from the paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)... Read more

Mi Sangre

Mi Sangre

Medellin native Henry de Jesus Lopez, alias "Mi Sangre,” began his criminal career with the... Read more

Gavilan

Gavilan

Roberto Vargas Gutierrez, alias “Gavilan,” has transformed himself from Maoist guerrilla to Read more

Rastrojos

Rastrojos

The Rastrojos were born out of the powerful Norte del Valle drug trafficking organization and... Read more

Oficina de Envigado

Oficina de Envigado

The inheritors of Pablo Escobar’s drug trafficking empire in Colombia, the Oficina de Envigado is... Read more

Paisas

Paisas

The Paisas first emerged as a rural militia that grew out of the demobilized AUC... Read more

Zetas

Zetas

The Zetas, once the military wing of the Gulf Cartel, are among one of the... Read more

FARC

FARC

As the biggest irregular army in Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas... Read more

Valenciano

Valenciano

Maximiliano Bonilla Orozco, alias "Valenciano," was a leader in the Oficina de Envigado criminal organization,... Read more

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Urabeños Profile

Urabeños Profile
Urabeños
The origins, development and modus operandi of the Urabeños, perhaps Colombia's most powerful drug gang.
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Colombia
See latest news and analysis of Colombia, its biggest criminal groups and most notorious kingpins.
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