Leader of Largest Death Squad in Colombia Gives Up
BOGOTA, Colombia — The leader of Colombia’s largest organization of right-wing death squads surrendered Friday along with 35 of his associates.
Ariel Otero, chief of the Self-Defense Groups of Magdalena Medio, gave himself up in acceptance of a government offer of reduced jail sentences, local radio and TV reported, citing a presidential communique.
A presidential spokesman said a delegation of senior officials will travel to Magdalena Medio today to officially receive the surrendering suspects.
The news reports said Otero and his associates showed up at the mayor’s offices in the central Colombian town of Puerto Boyaca, where Otero’s group wields enormous power.
The self-defense groups sprouted in the mid-1980s, with approval from authorities, to protect wealthy landowners and their ranches from attacks by leftist rebels.
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