One of Latin America's most powerful drug cartels beheaded

Colombian authorities have arrested one of the most influential drug lords in Latin America, Daniel Barrera, nicknamed Psycho. For 20 years, his group was involved in the supply of cocaine to the United States and Europe.

“This is perhaps one of the most important arrests in recent times,” said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Daniel Barrera was arrested in the Venezuelan city of San Cristobal, located near the border with Colombia.

As explained by the head of the Colombian National Police, General Jose Leon Riano, the drug lord was detained on the street while he was in a telephone booth. The fact is that Daniel Barrera did not use his personal phone, fearing that he would be tracked by the call. However, in the end this is what happened. The American CIA and the British Mi-6 played a key role in the search and capture of the drug lord, providing the “necessary technical support.” General management of the operation was also carried out from Washington. However, the Colombian authorities also noted the assistance of their Venezuelan partners.

Daniel Barrera, nicknamed Psycho, built his drug empire over the course of 20 years and is considered a long-liver of the local criminal world. He gained fame not only because of his cruelty towards competitors, but also because of his phenomenal ability to negotiate with all participants in the half-century-long intra-Colombian civil conflict. In particular, intelligence agencies note Psycho’s close ties with the main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which got involved in the drug business in the 1980s.

According to American intelligence agencies, the Barrera cartel has supplied more than 900 tons of pure cocaine to the United States alone over the years of its activity. Washington has placed a $5 million bounty on his head, similar to that of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The arrest of Daniel Barrera was another success in the fight against the Colombian drug mafia. In June, the head of the Los Rastroyos drug cartel, Diego Perez Genao, who was considered one of the main exporters of cocaine to the United States through Mexico, was caught. In August, Erickson Vargas, believed to be a student of legendary Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, was arrested. However, according to a recent UN study, despite this, Colombia continues to rank first in the world in cocaine production. True, Peruvian drug producers are hot on its heels.

Alexander Reutov

Colombian authorities arrest Psycho