Daniel Barrera Barrera
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Daniel Barrera Barrera also known as "El loco" is a Colombian 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[1] 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[2].
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[edit] Other aliases
Besides being known as "el loco" Barrera goes by the names of "Germán Barrera", "Arnoldo Barrera", "Vicente Rivera" or "el gordo".
[edit] Early years
According to an article by Colombian magazine Revista Semana, Barrara initiate 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.[3]
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.
[edit] Business with FARC
According to Colombian authorities Barrera was a key associated of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in drug retail and distribution. Barrera was an associated of alias "Negro Acacio" a renown guerrilla commander involved in the illegal drug trade bussiness for the FARC.[4] 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 42th front.
[edit] Business with paramilitary groups
Barrera had parallel illegal drug businesses also with FARC's enemy, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (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 stronly 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.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ (Spanish) lostiempos.com: Drogas: mujer entre nuevos "capos"
- ^ (Spanish) El Tiempo: Daniel 'El 'Loco' Barrera, es ahora el narco más fuerte en Colombia, aseguran autoridades
- ^ (Spanish) Criminalescolombianos.com: The new "boss" of the capital
- ^ (Spanish) Revista semana: A "boss" is born
- ^ (Spanish) El Tiempo: 'Los Nevados', el nuevo cartel de 'Los Mellizos' Mejía Múnera que declaró guerra al Estado
