Honduras Arrests Colombian Drug Lord Wanted by Interpol

Honduras’s efforts to combat drug trafficking seems to finally be making some headway, with help from the expertise of foreign nations. Most recently, Colombia has been in Honduras helping train, polygraph, and prepare police forces prepared to fight this increasing scourge. Yesterday, Columbia’s efforts were rewarded with Honduras apprehending on of their own:

The alleged second-in-command of Colombia’s most powerful neo-paramilitary group, the Urabeños, has been captured in Honduras, reported Colombian media Tuesday.

Alexander Montoya Usuga, alias “El Flaco,” was arrested Tuesday morning in Honduras in a joint operation between Honduran and Colombian authorities. Montoya had allegedly served as number two in the Urabeños since early 2012 and was reportedly in charge of managing the organization’s drug routes in northwestern Colombia. He was detained on charges of murder and drug trafficking.

Montoya reportedly travelled to Honduras from an unknown country in an airplane stolen from Bogota’s El Dorado airport earlier this year.

According to authorities, the 33-year-old Montoya belonged to the “Usuga clan,” a family considered to be in charge of the powerful drug trafficking organization. He was allegedly promoted to second-in-command after his cousin, Juan de Dios Usaga, alias “Giovanni,” was killed by Colombian security forces on January first 2012.

Honduras Captures Interpol SuspectBefore working with the Urabeños, Montoya was a member of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, a now-demobilized right-wing paramilitary organization.

Authorities said Montoya’s ascent to second-in-command of the organization facilitated the rise of his ally, Henry de Jesus Lopez, alias “Mi Sangre,” one of the most senior Urabeños members in the city of Medellin.

Montoya had an Interpol arrest warrant for crimes against humanity, theft, a plethora of drug-related offenses and crimes involving the use of weapons and explosives, organized crime and transnational crime.

From: Columbia Reports

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