Colombia arrests Segunda Marquetalia leader ‘Águila’ and 10 others

A judge has ordered pretrial detention for Rafael Salgado Merchán, known as ‘Águila’, and 10 other alleged members of the Segunda Marquetalia criminal group in the Meta department of Colombia.

The arrests followed a joint operation by the Colombian National Police and the National Army in the rural area of Puerto Gaitán. Authorities identified Merchán as a key leader within the faction and a trusted associate of the late José Manuel Sierra Sabogal, alias ‘Zarco Aldinever’.

The dismantled network was reportedly involved in narcotics trafficking and extortion, using intimidation to maintain territorial control over the local civilian population.