Daniel Barrera Barrera
Encyclopedia
Daniel Barrera Barrera also known as "El loco" is a Colombia
n druglord suspected of being the boss of the illegal drug trade
in Bogotá
. According to the Colombian National Police
intelligence service DIJIN, Barrera bribes numerous Colombian policemen in order to maintain his drug emporium in Bogotá which has grown after being a key link in the drug business first with members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) guerrilla group and later with members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
(AUC) paramilitary group and members Colombian Government Forces.
, Barrara initiated his illegal drug activities in San Jose del Guaviare
in the 1980s under the support of his brother Omar Barrera. His brother was gunned down a few months after being in Guaviare
for what he took revenge and respect among the other drug dealers in the region.
On February 7, 1990 Barrera was arrested on drug charges by Colombian authorities. After a few months, in October of this same year Barrera escaped from prison.
(FARC) in drug retail and distribution. Barrera was an associated of alias "Negro Acacio
" a renowned guerrilla commander involved in the illegal drug trade
business for the FARC. Barrera was a buyer of illegal drugs to many of the Eastern Bloc of the FARC-EP' fronts which included the 14th, 17th, 10th and 16th fronts, as well as contacts with alias "John 40" guerrilla chief of the 42nd front.
(AUC) bloc; Vencedores de Arauca Bloc which was led by Miguel Ángel y Víctor Mejía, aliased "Los Mellizos" (the twins). According to Colombian authorities Barrera also assassinated the commander of the Centauros Bloc of the AUC after presumably having differences.
Part of the drug produced by the FARC in western Colombia was bought by Barrera and sold to cartels or paramilitary groups. The Norte del Valle Cartel
, as well as small cartels in the Department of Antioquia
, the Caribbean region and Department of Narino
were among his customers, among these cartels were people strongly associated with the enemy; paramilitary groups.
On December 15, 2007 the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported that Barrera was the link between the FARC and a new cartel called Los Nevados formed by former paramilitary group and led by alias the "Mellizos" (the twin [brothers]) Víctor Manuel
and Miguel Ángel Mejía Múnera
.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n druglord suspected of being the boss of the illegal drug trade
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
. According to the Colombian National Police
Colombian National Police
The National Police of Colombia is the national police force of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military of Colombia , it constitutes along with them the "Public Force" and is also controlled by the Ministry of Defense. They are the largest police force in Colombia...
intelligence service DIJIN, Barrera bribes numerous Colombian policemen in order to maintain his drug emporium in Bogotá which has grown after being a key link in the drug business first with members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
(FARC) guerrilla group and later with members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia was created as an umbrella organization of regional far-right...
(AUC) paramilitary group and members Colombian Government Forces.
Other aliases
Besides being known as "el loco" Barrera goes by the names of "Germán Barrera", "Arnoldo Barrera", "Vicente Rivera" or "el gordo".Early years
According to an article by Colombian magazine Revista SemanaRevista Semana
Semana or Revista Semana is a Colombian-based weekly magazine. It was founded in 1946 by Alberto Lleras Camargo , but was shut down after a controversial cover depicting Cuban leader Fidel Castro.In 1983, journalist Felipe López Caballero re-founded the magazine...
, Barrara initiated his illegal drug activities in San Jose del Guaviare
San José del Guaviare
San José del Guaviare is a town and municipality in Colombia, capital of the department of Guaviare by the Guaviare River.-External links: *...
in the 1980s under the support of his brother Omar Barrera. His brother was gunned down a few months after being in Guaviare
Guaviare Department
Guaviare is a department of Colombia. It is in the southern central region of the country. Its capital is San José del Guaviare. Guaviare was created on July 4, 1991 by the new Political Constitution of Colombia...
for what he took revenge and respect among the other drug dealers in the region.
On February 7, 1990 Barrera was arrested on drug charges by Colombian authorities. After a few months, in October of this same year Barrera escaped from prison.
Business with FARC
According to Colombian authorities Barrera was a key associated of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
(FARC) in drug retail and distribution. Barrera was an associated of alias "Negro Acacio
Tomás Medina Caracas
Tomás Medina Caracas aka Tomás Molina Caracas aka Negro Acacio was a Colombian guerrilla member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia considered by Colombian authorities the man in charge of the illegal drug trade business and the head of the Eastern Bloc's 16th Front of this rebel group...
" a renowned guerrilla commander involved in the illegal drug trade
Illegal drug trade in Colombia
Illegal drug trade in Colombia refers to the practice of producing and distributing illegal drugs with psychoactive effects in Colombia. Colombia has had four major drug trafficking cartels which eventually created a new social class and influenced several aspects of Colombian culture...
business for the FARC. Barrera was a buyer of illegal drugs to many of the Eastern Bloc of the FARC-EP' fronts which included the 14th, 17th, 10th and 16th fronts, as well as contacts with alias "John 40" guerrilla chief of the 42nd front.
Business with paramilitary groups
Barrera had parallel illegal drug businesses also with FARC's enemy, the United Self-Defense Forces of ColombiaUnited Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia was created as an umbrella organization of regional far-right...
(AUC) bloc; Vencedores de Arauca Bloc which was led by Miguel Ángel y Víctor Mejía, aliased "Los Mellizos" (the twins). According to Colombian authorities Barrera also assassinated the commander of the Centauros Bloc of the AUC after presumably having differences.
Part of the drug produced by the FARC in western Colombia was bought by Barrera and sold to cartels or paramilitary groups. The Norte del Valle Cartel
Norte del Valle Cartel
The Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, is a drug cartel that operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia...
, as well as small cartels in the Department of Antioquia
Antioquia Department
Antioquia is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range...
, the Caribbean region and Department of Narino
Nariño Department
Nariño is a department of Colombia named after Antonio Nariño. It is in the west of the country, bordering Ecuador and the Pacific Ocean.Its capital is Pasto, other important cities include Tumaco, Ipiales.-Municipalities:# Albán# Aldana# Ancuya...
were among his customers, among these cartels were people strongly associated with the enemy; paramilitary groups.
On December 15, 2007 the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported that Barrera was the link between the FARC and a new cartel called Los Nevados formed by former paramilitary group and led by alias the "Mellizos" (the twin [brothers]) Víctor Manuel
Víctor Manuel Mejía Múnera
Víctor Manuel Mejía Múnera aka "El Mellizo " or "Pablo Arauca" was a Colombian drug lord and former paramilitary leader along twin brother Miguel Ángel of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia commanding the Bloque Vencedores de Arauca which demobilized in 2006.Mejia-Munera along with twin...
and Miguel Ángel Mejía Múnera
Miguel Ángel Mejía Múnera
Miguel Ángel Mejía Múnera aka "El Mellizo" or "Pablo Mejía" is a presumed Colombian drug lord and former paramilitary leader. Along with brother Víctor Manuel he created a drug cartel called "Los Nevados" out of a former paramilitary which they bought for US$ million dollars...
.