Colombia Releases Notorious Rightwing Warlord Accused of War Crimes, Salvatore Mancuso

A high court in Bogota, Colombia has ordered the immediate release of Salvatore Mancuso, the Colombian warlord who led the rightwing Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary group, which is accused of various crimes against humanity and war crimes in its campaign against the various leftist rebel groups in the country.

Mancuso was returned to Colombia earlier this year after he was extradited to the US and served 16 years behind bars there. Upon his return, he was immediately arrested again but has now walked free after two prior judicial setbacks that prevented his release.

The Colombian warlord tried to seek his release by invoking his cooperation with the transitional justice system created with the 2016 peace deal that resulted in the disarmament of the notorious communist rebel group, FARC.

However, The City Paper Bogota noted that Salvatore Mancuso is still in danger of being thrown back in prison as his case is still pending in Colombia's Supreme Court, which can still reverse the tribunal's decision. He also faces several other outstanding warrants that amount to over 40 years in prison.

Magistrate Jose Manuel Parra delivered the verdict, which revoked the 57 security measures that had kept the notorious warlord in prison. The decision divided many in Colombia, given that Mancuso has been accused of some very violent and heinous crimes.

Colombia Warlord Salvatore Mancuso Was Imprisoned in US for Drug Trafficking

While he went against Colombian rebel groups such as the FARC and the ELN with his paramilitary AUC group, he funded his activities through nefarious means, particularly drug trafficking cocaine to the United States. This led to him being extradited by Colombia and being imprisoned in the US.

As for his current status, his defense attorneys confirmed to Reuters that the high court ruled for his release, with the order being dated May 10, 2024. He was previously held in preventive detention in La Picota prison, located on the outskirts of Bogota. He was held there since being deported by the United States.

Who Is Colombian Warlord Salvatore Mancuso?

Salvatore Mancuso Gomez is the son of an Italian father and a Colombian mother. He studied civil engineering and agricultural administration before becoming an administrator for several cattle ranches. However, the rebel group known as the EPL or Popular Liberation Army extorted these ranches, leading to Mancuso taking up arms against them.

Mancuso started as an informant for the Colombian military and gave them information on the EPL's activities in Colombia's Codoba region, according to InSight Crime.

He worked with the military enough that he joined the paramilitary group known as the ACCU. He was initially in charge of networking with local and regional politicians but soon branched out to drug trafficking and directly led efforts to smoke out suspected guerrillas. This was where his various crimes in Colombia happened. His group, the ACU, was said to be responsible for over 1,500 murders.

READ MORE: Colombia: Brother of Powerful Senator Pleads Guilty to Drug Smuggling Charge in US

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: US extradites former far-right paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso back to Colombia - Al Jazeera English