Man known as alias 'Cuba', hitman chief of 'La Cordillera', captured in Dosquebradas
The National Army captured in Dosquebradas, Risaralda, the alleged leader of hitmen for the criminal organisation 'La Cordillera', responsible for extortion and micro-trafficking.
Hitman chief of 'La Cordillera' arrested in Dosquebradas, Risaralda
Troops from the Colombian National Army captured in Dosquebradas, in the department of Risaralda, a man known as alias Cuba, alleged leader of the hitman wing of the criminal organisation 'La Cordillera', according to infobae.com.
The operation was carried out under a court order with the participation of the Technical Investigation Body of the Public Prosecutor's Office (CTI) and the Sijín of the National Police. The detention resulted from intelligence work conducted by the Military Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group (Gaula) of the Coffee Belt Axis in coordination with judicial investigation agencies.
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the capture through his X account. "In Dosquebradas, alias 'Cuba' was captured, leader and chief of hitmen for 'La Cordillera', responsible for coordinating micro-trafficking, homicides and extortion against merchants and transport operators in Pereira and Dosquebradas," the president stated.
De la Espriella reiterated his stance against criminal groups: "We are hunting them by air, land and sea. They will have no hiding place nor rest: I will destroy them."
According to military intelligence reports, alias Cuba allegedly coordinated micro-trafficking in the central region of the country and allegedly directed intimidation and extortion actions against merchants and transport operators in Pereira and Dosquebradas. The National Army stated that the objective of the operations is to dismantle capabilities associated with hitmen for hire, micro-trafficking and pressure on the civilian population.
Previous blows against the same structure
The capture of alias Cuba is part of a series of recent operations against 'La Cordillera' in the same municipality. In a previous police action in Dosquebradas, seven alleged members of the organisation were detained; in that operation the authorities seized approximately 400 doses of bazuco and two million pesos in cash, money that according to official investigation would be linked to the sale of that substance.
In September 2026, the Office of the President also reported the capture of 15 alleged members of the hitman wing of 'La Cordillera' in operations in the Pereira metropolitan area, as well as the seizure of more than 20 firearms.
Origins and scope of 'La Cordillera'
According to police reports cited by El Tiempo, 'La Cordillera' emerged between 2002 and 2004 around local drug trafficking and theft in Risaralda. Over time it expanded its activities towards drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion and illegal loans known as gota a gota.
The Ombudsman's Office issued Structural Early Alert 001-23, in which it described the urban and rural presence of the network, its illegal economic control and the risk of recruitment and use of children and adolescents. The same document included alerts concerning selective homicides, forced disappearances, threats, displacement, extortion and drug trafficking in Dosquebradas.
El Tiempo also noted that the Ombudsman's Office indicated alleged links between the structure and the Clan del Golfo, which calls itself the Gaitanist Army of Colombia.
The Colombian National Army stated that, following these results, the public force will maintain intelligence and investigation operations together with other authorities in the Coffee Belt Axis, with the aim of maintaining pressure on the criminal structures operating in that area.
Source: Google News CO — Crime