| In | Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Territory | Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Central America, Mexico. |
| Ethnicity | Colombians and Criminals of various ethnicity are employed |
| Membership | 1,500 |
| Criminal activities | Murder, drug trafficking, extortion, Arms trafficking, Money laundering, Contract killing, Ilegal Gold Mining, Burglary, Paramilitary Training, Military Weapons Theft, Police Weapons Theft, Explosive material Fabrication and Theft, Truck hijacking. |
| Rivals | Los Urabeños[1] |
Los Rastrojos is a Colombian neo-paramilitary, armed group engaged in the Colombian armed conflict. The organization is believed to be one of the armed groups 'that rose from the ashes of right-wing paramilitary squads',[2] such as Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia. Los Rastrojos has been described as a 'private army' commanded by a 'warlord' and funded by 'wealthy business interests'.[3] The group funds itself primarily by cocaine, heroin trafficking and illegal gold mining, thus taking advantage of high gold prices in 2010 and 2011.[4] Los Rastrojos are, together with the Norte del Valle cartel, considered the 'heirs' of the Cali cartel. Other reports allege Los Rastrojos are in fact the same as the Norte del Valle cartel, only working under a new name and taking advantage 'of a strong network of assassins, distributors and contacts in the international markets'.[5] They are believed to operate mainly in Valle del Cauca and Cali, although there are reports of them spreading their zone of influence to other parts of Colombia and western Venezuela.[6] Membership is estimated at 1,200 to 1,500 fighters and hitmen.[7] Several members of Los Rastrojos have been killed or arrested in Venezuela by the Venezuelan armed forces.[8]
Los Rastrojos have frequently fought battles against the guerrilla groups FARC-EP (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) and ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) in the southern Cauca department.[9][10]