In Colombia, a man accused of being “the main coordinator of migrant trafficking from Colombia to the United States” was charged with three crimes. To Nelson Enrique Bautista Reátiga, alias ‘Poporro’ They captured him in Cancun, Mexico.

The person concerned was expelled to Colombian territory and brought before a judge for guarantee control. The Public Prosecutor legalized the arrest of alias “Poporro”, who is considered the alleged leader of the criminal group ‘Los del Sur’reports the institution.

Bautista Reátiga was charged with murder, drug trafficking and conspiracy.

The story of alias “Poporro”

The National Police of Colombia, in the voice of its director, General William René Salamanca, indicated on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 that “Poporro” was located and captured on Sunday, January 14, in an exclusive apartment in Cancun.

Salamanca, according to EFE, insisted during a press conference that ‘Poporro’ is a “partner of the Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Tijuana cartels, as well as a “stimulator” of micro-trafficking in the department of Santander, Colombia.

The capture of “Poporro” is part of the balance sheet of the transnational operation ‘Exodus’.

He is an associate of the ‘Jalisco Nueva Generación’ and ‘Tijuana’ cartels, a driving force behind micro-trafficking in Santander and the alleged perpetrator of more than several murders.

General William René Salamanca, General Director of the National Police of Colombia

It was said that the person concerned started committing crimes in 2006. He then, EFE reported, founded his gang, “Los del Sur,” which authorities explain “devoted to micro-trafficking, extortion and hitmen in northeastern Columbia.”

After some time, it was learned that “Poporro” turned to drug trafficking and “became a supplier and partner of the Jalisco Nueva Generación and Tijuana cartels.”

There was a blue Interpol notice hanging over the subject. He was living illegally in Mexico, the prosecutor’s office said.

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Nelson Enrique Bautista Reatiga, alias ‘Poporro, during his capture after being deported to Bogotá. Photo: EFE/Colombia police

“Poporro” and migrant trafficking

Colombian police assured that alias “Poporro” is “the leader of an international migrant smuggling network.”

The facility released audio material allegedly linking them to the crime. Due to arguments with other gangs, the man left for Mexico in 2020.

In Cancun, “he led an international network of migrant smugglers arriving in Colombia from Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Panama,” EFE published.

The modus operandi was explained in this way by the police

“I contacted them through a dozen WhatsApp accounts, under the name ‘Don Antonio’. He offered to transport them to the US border for prices between $5,000 and $8,000.

The migrants traveled from Bogotá to Cancún, from where they were taken in trucks, buses and public service vehicles to the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán under “extreme” conditions, EFE reported.

Once they arrived in the cities of Quintana Roo and Yucatán, they stayed there for three to four days, until they had filled a limited space to continue the journey to Tijuana.

There “they were distributed throughout the countryside, in houses for groups of 20 to 30 people, where they were prepared for the last part of the journey, on foot, in the middle of the desert.”

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These migrants were also “forced to transport packages of 4 to 20 kilos of cocaine or ingest between 20 and 80 capsules of the alkaloid” into the United States, according to police.

“Once they managed to cross the border, they forced the migrants to record a video thanking ‘Don Antonio’.” The materials were uploaded to networks as an ‘advertising strategy’.

With the arrest of ‘Poporro’, General Salamanca celebrates, ’18 years of criminal activities by one of the most wanted criminals in Colombia have come to an end.’ (JO)