Senior member of Colombia's military mafia escapes from police station

"Zeus" allegedly caught while trafficking arms and ammunition
by Adriaan Alsema April 22, 2024

A retired army major who had been a member of the now-defunct Norte del Valle Cartel escaped from police custody in northeastern Colombia on Sunday. Juan Carlos Rodriguez, a.k.a. “Zeus,” escaped from a police station in downtown Cucuta together with 21 other detainees during a tropical storm that apparently distracted the local cops.

Zeus had been arrested in the Norte de Santander province last week while allegedly on his way to provide ammunition and explosives to an unknown illegal armed group in the border region.

The arrest triggered an investigation by war crimes tribunal JEP, which has been investigating the retired major’s admitted participation in extrajudicial killings with the now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC.

. . .

Until his initial arrest in 2005, Zeus was one of the most respected members of the National Army’s special forces. Following his first conviction, the former major admitted to a flurry of crimes committed with top AUC commanders like Carlos Castaño and Ramon Isaza.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/senior-member-of-colombias-military-mafia-escapes-from-police-station/