on the morning of Monday, December 9, the public force announced the recapture of Óscar Camargo Ríos, alias Pichi, one of the best leaders of micro-trafficking in Bucaramanga, so much so that he is considered the ‘Pablo Escobar’ of the capital . of Santander, for his involvement in several murders and for managing drug trafficking in the city.
The arrest took place at 4:30 in the morning in an operation carried out in the village of El Noral,a rural area of the municipality of Copacabana,in the department of Antioquia.where he was accompanied by two others who apparently accompanied him, and were also detained by the authorities.
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Upon his arrest, alias Pichi was in possession of a Five Seven brand pistol, of 9 millimeter caliber, as well as four suppliers and 99 cartridges, which were seized in flagrante delicto..Also, a drone, eight cell phones and six million pesos in cash were seized.
The other two detainees were identified as Jeison Roleywer Gonzales Saavedra and Luis Carlos Pacheco Pantoja, who was the main guard of the alias Pichi. The three were left at the disposal of the competent authorities,where it is indeed expected that they will be transferred to Bogotá.
“Alias Pichi is a criminal who has caused a lot of damage to Colombian society”, stated the Director of Police, General William Salamanca, in a press conference.
Alias pichi was in possession of a Five Seven brand firearm, 9 millimeter caliber, along with ammunition – credit National PoliceÓscar Camargo Ríos, alias Pichi, is accused of leading the criminal association Los de San Rafa in Bucaramanga which, according to police intelligence facts, maintains disputes regarding criminal control and distribution of narcotics in the city against the criminal structure Los del Sur.
The escape of the notorious criminal leader occurred after officers in uniform from the Colombian Institute of Prisons and Prisons (Inpec) made a controlled visit to the Colombian residence. Pichi in the El Poblado neighborhood of Medellín, knowing he was home.
However, when told to return to Itagüí prison, the man deactivated his bracelet and fled.
“The bracelet emits an alert of violations at Cervi,the monitoring center Due to the alert from the bracelet,the Home Service team is dispatched again and the man cannot be found in the House.. The report is submitted to the Judge on the case, and at this moment the protocol is advanced when these new developments are presented to Ponal,” the authorities noted.
Alias Pichi was convicted of the crimes of drug trafficking, aggravated murder, arms trafficking, conspiracy and extortion.though, this subject attempted to escape from the authorities four times, and breached the security measure from home to prison more than ten times.
At the time, The public force had offered a reward of up to 150 million pesos for information that would allow the recapture of the aforementioned ‘Pablo Escobar from Santander’.
Subsequently, the Office of the Attorney General, through its representative for the Protection of Human Rights, Inpec demanded an exhaustive report regarding the monitoring of the house sentence that alias Pichi was serving in an apartment in El Poblado.
This request comes after suspicions that,despite informing the presiding judge of three convictions prior to the escape,no additional security measures were put in place.
“The Attorney General’s Office requested an explanation of how the prisoner was monitored during his house arrest, sence, according to reports, the judge was informed of three infractions before the escape without taking corrective actions or reinforcement of surveillance .” said the statement from the governing entity.
In addition,the Attorney General’s Office requested a list of the guardians responsible for the surveillance and custody of the Pichi alias,in which it seeks to know the dates on which the judge notified the inpec of the revocation of the house arrest,and is his aim. determine whether there were deficiencies or negligence in the procedure.
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– What are the main social impacts of drug trafficking in communities like Bucaramanga,as discussed by Dr. Mariana Torres?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Crime Expert dr. Mariana Torres
Time.news Editor: Good morning, Dr. Torres. Thank you for joining us today. With the recent arrest of Óscar Camargo Ríos, known as alias “Pichi,” many are shocked by the depth of his criminal activities in Bucaramanga. Can you give us some background on who he is and why he’s considered the ‘Pablo escobar’ of Santander?
Dr. Mariana Torres: Good morning, and thank you for having me. Alias Pichi is indeed a notorious figure in the world of micro-trafficking in Colombia. His operations in Bucaramanga have had severe ramifications for the community, leading not only to drug distribution but also to a significant increase in violence, including murders. This is why he’s often compared to Pablo Escobar; both operated at large-scale levels of drug trafficking and were deeply embedded in the social fabric of their cities, albeit in destructive ways.
Time.news Editor: His arrest in the rural area of Copacabana seems to have been quite strategic. can you elaborate on the implications of his capture for the local drug trade?
Dr. Mariana Torres: Absolutely. Pichi’s capture is a significant blow to the micro-trafficking networks in that region. His leadership had established a level of fear and control that allowed his organization to flourish. with him in custody, we might see a power vacuum that could lead to infighting among rival gangs, or it could perhaps open opportunities for law enforcement to dismantle remaining factions. It’s a crucial moment for the Colombian police to capitalize on.
Time.news Editor: The authorities seized quite an arsenal during his arrest, including a firearm, cash, and even a drone. What does this tell us about the nature of his operations?
Dr. Mariana Torres: The elegant tools found in his possession, like the Five Seven pistol and drone, indicate that he was not just a street-level dealer but operated with a notable level of organization and technical capability. This suggests his operations involved more than simple drug dealing; he was likely involved in surveillance and logistics essential for running a larger-scale drug trafficking operation. The drones can be used for scouting, monitoring law enforcement movements, or even for direct delivery of drugs, revealing how advanced drug trafficking methods have become.
Time.news Editor: Following his arrest, what next steps do you expect from the Colombian authorities in terms of addressing the drug problem?
Dr. Mariana Torres: The authorities will likely conduct thorough investigations not only into Pichi’s organization but also into its connections with larger cartel structures. They will aim to dismantle the supply chains and networks he relied on. Community engagement will also be crucial—public confidence in law enforcement must be rebuilt after years of violence and fear tied to drug trafficking.Initiatives aimed at rehabilitation and economic development may also play a role in offering choice paths for those involved in or affected by these criminal networks.
Time.news Editor: General William Salamanca labeled Pichi a criminal who caused a lot of damage to Colombian society. How can society begin to heal from the impact of leaders like him?
Dr. Mariana Torres: Healing a society that has been afflicted by such deep-rooted criminal activity requires a multifaceted approach. first, there needs to be justice served for the crimes committed, not only against individuals but against communities who have suffered. Then, addressing the social and economic factors that lead to drug trade involvement is critical. This includes ensuring education, job opportunities, and mental health support. Community-led initiatives and breaking the cycles of violence can help rebuild trust and resilience in society overall.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Torres, for yoru insightful analysis. It seems the arrest of alias Pichi is just the beginning of a longer process for Bucaramanga and Colombian society as a whole.
Dr. Mariana Torres: It is, and thank you for shedding light on this important issue. The path to recovery from the impacts of organized crime is challenging but essential for a safer future.