Colombian Hitmen Arrested in Spain; Suspected To Be Part of La Negra Group

September 15, 2010 By Staff

Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.

Today in Latin America

Top Story — Two Colombian men were arrested in the Valencia region in eastern Spain who allegedly worked as “debt collectors” for Colombian drug cartels and are suspected of committing over 200 murders.

Henry Norberto Valdés Marín, also know as “El Pollo” and Mauricio Alberto González, alias “El Ronco”, were captured by Spanish police on Sunday night at different addresses in the Valencia region after information was given to them by the Colombian counterparts.

“These are the most dangerous Colombian citizens to have been detained in Spain up until now due to their history and the variety of criminal activities that they were involved with,” The Spanish Interior Ministry said, according to the Montreal Gazette.

Both men were also wanted on charges of drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. They face extradition to Colombia.

Valdés Marín is allegedly the logistics coordinator for a group of hitmen working for Colombia’s Norte del Valle drug cartel that is known as Le Negra. The group is suepcted to operate in eight countries and is blamed for the 2004 death of soccer player Albeiro “El Palomo” Usuriaga.

González Sepúlveda allegedly lead part of the now-defunct Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) and has ties to Colombia’s Envigado drug cartel. He had skin grafted to his finger tips to disguise his identity.

Spain is one of the main entry points in Europe for cocaine coming from Colombia and it is believed that the two men moved to Spain with the aim of continuing their criminal activities in the country.

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