Leader Of Clan Del Golfo Drug Cartel Otoniel Arrested, Colombian Police Chief Says Betrayed By His Members

Clan del Golfo Dairo drug cartel leader Antonio Usuga otherwise known as Otoniel. (Twitter of Colombian President Ivan Duque/@IvanDuque)

JAKARTA - The man Colombia describes as the world's most dangerous drug dealer told security forces "you beat me" when he was arrested in an operation this weekend, the government said on Sunday, pledging to extradite him quickly to the United States.

Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, was arrested by Colombian armed forces during an operation in rural areas in 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 is accused of exporting hundreds of tonnes of cocaine every year. Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Saturday Otoniel was also responsible for the killing of police officers, the recruitment of minors and the sexual abuse of children.

The Colombian government will petition Monday with the Supreme Court to extradite Otoniel to the United States, Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz told Reuters on Sunday, adding the process could take four weeks to complete.

"Extradition awaits all those who commit international crimes," Defense Secretary Diego Molano told reporters in Necocli, close to where Otoniel was arrested.

Being the most wanted fugitive, accurate information on his whereabouts is valued at up to 5.8 million US dollars, with Washington offering a 5 million dollar reward and the Colombian government offering a reward of 800 thousand dollars or the equivalent of 3 billion Colombian pesos.

Minister Molano confirmed both prizes would be paid, reiterating, describing Otoniel as the worst kind of criminal.

Otoniel rose to become leader of the Clan del Golfo, or Gulf Clan, drug trafficking group, after stints as a left-wing guerrilla and then as a paramilitary.

To note, Clan del Golfo exists in 12 of Colombia's 32 provinces, and has about 3,800 members, according to information provided by Colombia's national police.

Clan del Golfo was also involved in illegal mining, authorities said. The government has also accused the group of threatening and killing public figures across the country.

Colombian police chief General Jorge Vargas said much of the information leading to Otoniel's arrest came from members of the Clan del Golfo.

"Many people of Clan del Golfo betrayed him," said Vargas.

Otoniel traded between 180 tonnes and 200 tonnes of cocaine a year with Clan del Golfo, and was responsible for the deaths of more than 200 members of Colombia's security forces, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Colombian authorities launched Operation Agamemnon in 2016 when they worked to get close to Otoniel, killing and arresting dozens of his aides, pursuing his finances and forcing him to keep moving, according to police.

In 2017, a video in which Otoniel announced his intention to submit to justice was published, but the plan never came to fruition.