Colombia Dismantles Wayuu Gang That Trafficked 90 Tons of Cocaine for the Sinaloa Cartel
By Socalj 7/12/2023 10:49:00 AM 12 comments
"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
Colombian and American authorities dismantled a drug gang that operated in La Guajira, in northern Colombia, and was associated with the Sinaloa cartel. According to the Colombian Police, the organization trafficked more than 90 tons of cocaine since 2021.
General William René Salamanca Ramírez, General Director of the National Police, said that the organization "has been involved in more than 30 shipments of narcotics in the last two and a half years with destinations to Central America and the United States, valued at $1.8 billion."
Operation New Horizon
The operation led to the arrest of Edicto Segundo Castañeda Hernández, also known as "El Condor" who is said to be the leader of the organization. He was arrested after attending a Vallenato music party at a ranch in Uribia, La Guajira. The party, which he attended with his wife and several of his men, lasted for days. Undercover police officers were there monitoring Hernández and arrested him as he left the party.
In order not to arouse suspicion, he always gave instructions in the Wayuunaiki dialect. Perhaps he did not think that there were policemen in the intelligence division who spoke the same language. Following that discovery, a policeman of Wayuu descent was appointed to the team in order to translate the orders being given by "El Condor" as the leader of a powerful criminal organization with tentacles with the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.
. . .
The organization sent up to 8 tons of drugs each month through Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and, finally, the United States. 10 firearms, 38 cellphones & computers, and about $38,500 in cash were seized.
More:
https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2023/07/colombia-dismantles-wayuu-gang-that.html
Approximately 400,000 people speak Wayuunaiki.
WAYÚU DANCE La Yonna I Guajira Colombia
not to be confused with Circassian (Caucasian) Dance
(Ma, ya made the sleeves too long)