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NECOCLI (Reuters) – Colombia’s drug kingpin told security officers that he had been captured by Colombian forces during an operation last weekend. The government pledged to exonerate him quickly to the United States.

Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, was caught https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-drugs-otoniel/colombia-nabs-otoniel-drug-kingpin-and-gang-leader-government-idUSKBN2HD0KF by Colombia’s armed forces during an operation in a rural area of Colombia’s Uraba region, Antioquia province, which involved more than 500 members of Colombia’s special forces and 22 helicopters, officials said on Saturday.

Otoniel, who is charged with exporting hundreds upon tonnes of cocaine per year, was accused by President Ivan Duque on Saturday. He also claimed responsibility for recruiting and killing officers as well as sexually abusing minors.

On Monday, Colombia’s government will petition the Andean Supreme Court for Otoniel extradition. Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz said to Reuters that the process could take between four and six weeks.

According to Defense Minister Diego Molano, extradition is available for all international criminals. He spoke out in Necocli near where Otoniel was taken prisoner.

Colombia had offered a reward of up to 3 billion pesos (about $800,000) for information concerning Otoniel’s whereabouts, while the U.S. government had put up a reward of $5 million for help locating him.

Molano stated that both rewards would be paid and Otoniel was “the worst type” of criminal.

After stints as both a left-wing paramilitary and as a left-wingguerrilla, Otoniel rose up to be the leader of Clan del Golfo or Gulf Clan.

According to Colombian police information, Clan del Golfo exists in twelve of the 32 Colombian provinces. It has about 3,800 members.

According to authorities, Clan del Golfo was also involved with illegal mining. The government has also accused the group of terrorizing and murdering community leaders throughout the country.

General Jorge Vargas of Colombia, the chief police officer, stated that Clan del Golfo members were responsible for much information leading Otoniel to his capture.

Vargas claimed that many Clan del Golfo members had betrayed Vargas.

Otoniel, who was associated with Clan del Golfo and trafficked in between 180 to 200 tonnes each year of cocaine, is responsible for over 200 deaths within Colombia’s security forces.

Operation Agamemnon was launched by Colombian police in 2016. It involved the capture and killing of dozens Otoniel’s lieutenants as well as pursuing his finances.

Otoniel made a 2017 video declaring his intention to surrender to justice. However, the plan was never realized.