Víctor Manuel Mejía Múnera
Encyclopedia
Víctor Manuel Mejía Múnera aka "El Mellizo (the twin)" or "Pablo Arauca" (born July 11, 1959 - died April 29, 2008) was a Colombia
n drug lord
and former paramilitary leader along twin brother Miguel Ángel
of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
(AUC) commanding the Bloque Vencedores de Arauca which demobilized in 2006.
Mejia-Munera along with twin brother Miguel Ángel
were wanted by the United States
and Colombian governments on charges related to the Illegal drug trade in Colombia
and forming illegal paramilitary groups for terrorist purposes.
On December 5, 2007 an operation led by Colombian National Police
DIJIN police intelligence captured members of his personal army of hitmen known as "Los Nevados", mostly former members of the paramilitary groups.
operation conducted by an elite unit on April 29, 2008. The operation took place between the municipalities of Tarazá
and Caucasia
, Department of Antioquia near the border with the Department of Córdoba where Mejía Múnera had sought refuge. He was escorted by six or eight people, two of whom were his personal bodyguards and were killed in the operation, only three of these survived. The Colombian National Police localized Mejia Munera after an informant tipped off the authorities. Initially the police said they killed Victor Manuel's brother. The confusion arose, because Victor Manuel was carrying his brothers papers. His brother Miguel Ángel
was captured less than 72 hours after Víctor Manuel's death.
On May 2, 2008 Caracol Radio
announced that the body of Mejía had gone missing. None of the concerning authorities were able to tell where his corpse was.
Colombian minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos
informed that Mejia-Munera had five arrest warrants and one extradition petition by the United States. Colombian authorities also related the Cocaleros protest of the weeks before his death in the municipality of Tarazá to Mejía-Múnera as a strategy to distract authorities and escape.
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 drug lord
Drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
and former paramilitary leader along twin brother Miguel Ángel
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...
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) commanding the Bloque Vencedores de Arauca which demobilized in 2006.
Mejia-Munera along with twin brother Miguel Ángel
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...
were wanted by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Colombian governments on charges related to the Illegal drug trade in Colombia
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...
and forming illegal paramilitary groups for terrorist purposes.
On December 5, 2007 an operation led by 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...
DIJIN police intelligence captured members of his personal army of hitmen known as "Los Nevados", mostly former members of the paramilitary groups.
Death
Victor Manuel was killed in a Colombian National PoliceColombian 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...
operation conducted by an elite unit on April 29, 2008. The operation took place between the municipalities of Tarazá
Tarazá
Taraza is a town and municipality in the Bajo Cauca subregion of Antioquia Department, Colombia. It lies from the city of Medellín, the departmental capital, and has a land area of...
and Caucasia
Caucasia, Antioquia
Caucasia is a municipality located in the subregion of Bajo Cauca Antioquia department, in Colombia. Bounded on the north by the department of Córdoba, in the east by the municipalities of Antioquia in Nechí and El Bagre, on the south by the municipality of Zaragoza, and west to the town of...
, Department of Antioquia near the border with the Department of Córdoba where Mejía Múnera had sought refuge. He was escorted by six or eight people, two of whom were his personal bodyguards and were killed in the operation, only three of these survived. The Colombian National Police localized Mejia Munera after an informant tipped off the authorities. Initially the police said they killed Victor Manuel's brother. The confusion arose, because Victor Manuel was carrying his brothers papers. His brother Miguel Ángel
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...
was captured less than 72 hours after Víctor Manuel's death.
On May 2, 2008 Caracol Radio
Caracol Radio
Caracol Radio is one of the main radio networks in Colombia. Founded in Medellín in 1948 when La Voz de Antioquia station acquired the 50% of Emisoras Nuevo Mundo, based in Bogotá....
announced that the body of Mejía had gone missing. None of the concerning authorities were able to tell where his corpse was.
Colombian minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...
informed that Mejia-Munera had five arrest warrants and one extradition petition by the United States. Colombian authorities also related the Cocaleros protest of the weeks before his death in the municipality of Tarazá to Mejía-Múnera as a strategy to distract authorities and escape.