Bolivian Police arrested a high ranking member of the notorious United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) on Tuesday, and extradited him to his home country of Colombia on Wednesday. Carlos Noel Buitrago Vega aka Porremacho is wanted for more than 50 counts of drug trafficking, mass murder and kidnappings, according to Bolivian Interior Minister Sacha Llorenti.
Buitrago Vega is the cousin of one of the leaders of the paramilitary organization AUC, Héctor Germán Buitrago aka Martin Llanos. Llanos is one of Colombia’s most wanted fugitives, and is thought to still be highly active in criminal activity. The AUC, internationally considered a terrorist organization, is responsible for severe human rights violations, funded largely by prolific drug trafficking operations.
Insight Crime reports that Buitrago moved into Bolivia two years ago in order to forge connections with other drug traffickers in the region, and set up a large trafficking network. Buitrago allegedly moved over 400 kg of cocaine to other countries in the region every two months.
Bolivian Special Narcotics Police (FECLN) worked in coordination with the Colombian government in order to apprehend Buitrago. Minister Llorenti promises that Bolivian authorities will persist in their efforts to combat drug trafficking.
