15 neo-paramilitaries surrender in western Colombia

A leader of the neo-paramilitary group, "Los Urabeños", and 15 of his subordinates on Friday surrendered to naval authorities in western Colombia.

The 15 members allegedly included two women, two children aged 15 and 17, and the notorious leader, known as El Tigre. The prolific criminal was formerly a member of the right-wing paramilitary group, the AUC before joining the notorious drug smuggling gang, "Los Rastrojos".

The former neo-paramilitaries traveled to a meeting point via two boats bringing with them various weapons, ammunition and comunication devices.

The pre-determined meeting point was a port in the western department of Choco where they were picked up by the country’s navy. Some of the ex-members are speculated to have contact with the FARC, Colombia’s largest left-wing guerrilla group.

The Urabeños are considered the most powerful neo-paramilitary group operating in Colombia with around 1,200 members. Like many other criminal organizations and rebel groups in the country, they raise most of their funding from drug trafficking. Having formed after the disbanding of the AUC in 2006, Los Urabeños are generally seen as enemies of other drug smuggling gangs and left wing groups, fighting for control over the country’s major cities.

Source http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/27872-15-neo-paramilitaries-surrender-in-western-colombia.html