The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, communicated this Wednesday the capture of the highest responsible for the structure of Los Costeños in Barranquilla, identified for coordinating an organization of hitmen that operated in several neighborhoods of the fourth most populated city in the country.
De la Espriella detailed on his social networks the apprehension of alias 'Ever' or 'Marino', whom he has described as "responsible for a network of hitmen and extortion against merchants and transporters".
The arrest took place in the municipality of Valledupar, located more than 290 kilometers from Barranquilla and close to the border with Venezuela. For the president, this operation represents a "strong blow to the finances and command line" of the criminal gang Los Costeños.
He explained that "this criminal led a criminal component of 25 members, ordered homicides against those who refused to pay extortions and was responsible for a network of hitmen with presence in eight neighborhoods of Barranquilla".
The head of the Colombian State also emphasized that "the contemplation with criminals is over". "We are going to pursue them, capture them, and bring them to justice, one by one. In the Milagro Homeland, crime is punished with all the law. The State will never again kneel before crime," he stressed.