Colombian president‑elect De La Espriella receives plea from gang leader ‘Castor’ for justice‑submission talks

Jorge Eliécer Díaz Collazos, known as alias ‘Castor’ and identified by authorities as a chief of the Los Costeños criminal network in Barranquilla and Atlántico, sent a public message to Colombia’s president‑elect Abelardo De La Espriella. In the message, ‘Castor’ said his organization had fulfilled the criteria required to enter a “sometimiento a la justicia” (submission to the justice system) and asked the incoming administration to establish a formal dialogue table to define the legal and institutional framework for the process.

The request comes as De La Espriella has announced a strict security policy, giving armed and criminal groups a one‑month deadline to submit to the rule of law and stating that no broad concessions will be offered. The leader of the ELN and dissident FARC groups have also been warned of prosecution if they refuse to comply. ‘Castor’ emphasised the need for judicial guarantees, a clear institutional roadmap, and government delegates to verify commitments, arguing that without such a framework the submission effort could falter.