Johan Guzmán murder uncovers weapons cache and safe in Santa Cruz condominium
Johan Guzmán's murder, allegedly a pilot for Marset, led to the arrest of a Colombian man with weapons, luxury vehicles and dollars in a condominium. The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating links to organised crime.
Arsenal and dollars found following murder linked to Marset network in Santa Cruz
The murder of 26-year-old Johan Guzmán Parada at a mechanics workshop in Santa Cruz triggered an investigation that resulted in the discovery of a weapons cache, high-end vehicles, jewellery and a safe containing dollars in a condominium in the North La Molina residential district. According to El Deber, GPS tracking of a mobile phone linked to the case led agents to the property, where Colombian citizen Carlos Vargas Ramírez, 42 years old, was apprehended.
Inside the dwelling raided by the Special Force Against Crime (Felcc), 500 ammunition rounds, six revolvers, one rifle, two high-end motorcars, a motorcycle and jewellery were found, along with money stored in the safe. Preliminary reports mention a sum close to half a million dollars, although the authorities have not yet officially established the amount. The safe was sealed pending expert examination to quantify and identify the source of the money.
Acting Attorney General José Armando Urioste confirmed on Wednesday that police and the Public Prosecutor's Office are investigating two related matters: the murder that occurred on Tuesday 13 October and the discovery at the condominium. "The accused would be part of the criminal organisation of Sebastián Marset and El Colla, a hypothesis that will be verified by the corresponding police evidence and reports," Urioste stated. Investigations were expanded to include suspected offences of arms trafficking, illegal possession and carrying of weapons and money laundering.
Anti-corruption prosecutor Gary Flores, in charge of the investigation into the weaponry and economic resources, anticipated that he would bring charges against Vargas Ramírez for money laundering and weapons-related offences, and that he would request his preventive detention.
However, investigators have not established with certainty whether the Colombian had material or intellectual involvement in the death of Guzmán Parada, nor whether the weapons and money are directly related to the murder or to other illicit activities.
The crime at Trochero Motors workshop
Guzmán Parada was killed in the afternoon of Tuesday at the Trochero Motors mechanics workshop, located on Radial 27, near the third ring road, in the Municipal Zoo area. Two men arrived on a motorcycle; one dismounted, entered the establishment armed and fired directly at the victim, who fell mortally wounded. The attacker fled on the same vehicle with his accomplice.
Prosecutor Yolanda Aguilera reported that the autopsy established the cause of death as severe head trauma caused by gunshot wounds. The victim received three bullet impacts, although his body bore four bullet holes due to one shot having an entry and exit wound. The investigation incorporated statements from nine witnesses—among them workshop employees and customers—and images from security cameras.
Background and links to organised crime
Guzmán Parada's history constitutes an additional line of investigation. On 17 November 2023, then Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo publicly presented him as one of the suspected pilots linked to Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset and the structure of Erlan Ivar García López, alias "El Colla". Guzmán also faced criminal proceedings for his suspected involvement in the murder of gym instructor Aldo Calderón Mejía, which occurred in July 2021 in the Camalota community, municipality of La Bélgica.
His lawyer, Blanca Mercado, revealed that hours before the crime she had met with Guzmán to analyse that legal proceeding and a potential request for dismissal of the case.
The case adds another family precedent: the victim's brother, 31-year-old Cristián Guzmán Parada, was killed on 7 August during an operation by Brazil's Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE), along with three other Bolivian citizens. Brazilian authorities linked the group to contract killings in the San Matías border region.
According to the family, Johan Guzmán had received threats before his murder. Lawyer Darly Franco revealed that, minutes before the attack, Guzmán sent a message to a family member asking him to protect his wife and daughter. "Please keep my wife and daughter safe," the message said, according to the lawyer, who believes the content of the mobile phone could provide relevant information about the circumstances surrounding the crime.
Source: El Deber