The recent arrest of alias Castañeda in Quindio has refocused attention on the fight against organized crime in Colombia.
The arrest of the suspected members and promoters of the La Cordillera criminal group is a significant blow to criminal organizations operating in several regions of the country.
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Authorities link criminals to drug trafficking operations and They point to him as responsible for ordering selective killings against public forces.
The operation that made possible the capture of Alias Castañeda was carried out in Quindio. This is a region where the Colombian Armed Forces is stepping up efforts to prevent criminal organizations from advancing.
Although no specific details were given regarding the date or exact development of the proceedings, the arrests come amid continued efforts by security forces to dismantle criminal networks that exist in the Koffee region and other areas.
Also known as Castañeda has been identified as a potential enhancer within Cordilleraan organized criminal group with influence in various sectors. His alleged direct ties to this organization place him in the chain of command and execution of illegal activities, making his arrest even more important for authorities responsible for security and security.
His criminal history under the alias Castañeda spans the regions of Tolima, Risaralda and Caldas, where he is believed to have intensified his criminal activities.. These areas are associated with the control of activities related to drug trafficking, which would have made it possible to expand the reach of La Cordillera and strengthen drug trafficking routes.
With the arrest of the pseudonym Castañeda, authorities therefore seek to stop the spread of illegal activities and reduce the risk to official forces, in a context where territorial control and violence related to drug trafficking remain a priority for national security.
With this in mind, it is important to mention that La Cordillera is an organized criminal group (GDO) that emerged in western Colombia, particularly in the Coffee region, following the demobilization of paramilitary blocs and the elimination of drug trafficking networks.
The armed group’s origins are believed to be former militia leaders who reorganized illegal businesses such as drug trafficking, micro-trafficking, and extortion in cities such as Pereira and neighboring municipalities once the AUC was disbanded.
Despite arrests and efforts by public forces, over time, the criminal structure has managed to adapt through factions, allowing it to remain an important actor in organized crime in the region.
Regarding its structure and modus operandi, authorities define it as a hierarchical organization that controls urban and rural territories to control illegal income.
The main activities of this criminal structure include small-scale drug trafficking (in popular areas), large-scale drug trafficking (with external routes), contract killings to settle scores or eliminate rivals, extortion of merchants and citizens, management of front businesses such as money laundering.
This large number of enterprises has enabled them to generate high incomes and exercise social and territorial control, but at the same time they have seriously affected the civilian population in the areas in which they operate.
Regarding security impacts, La Cordillera has been identified as being responsible for selective killings, intimidation of social leaders, and a significant increase in forced migration in coffee region municipalities.
For example, in 2025, Pereira recorded a notable spike in murders due to infighting between gang factions. Similarly, this criminal organization uses its influence to infiltrate the legal economy (usury, gambling, local businesses) as a regulatory and money laundering mechanism, a situation that complicates its eradication.
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