Pedro Pluma, the Aragua Train and the Pipe Tulua: theories about the murder of the director of La Modelo

Elmer Fernández, the director of La Modelo, one of the country’s most important prisons in Bogotá, was murdered this Thursday afternoon. He was traveling in a truck on a busy road in the capital when two men came on a motorcycle and shot him. A single bullet took his life. Shortly thereafter, authorities classified the killing as the act of attackers, and activated lock scheme Trying to catch those responsible. Even after more than 20 hours, no one has been arrested and the police have not provided any clear clues. However, there are three main theories prevalent as to who might be behind this crime. These are two imprisoned men, both accused of threatening prison officers, Pedro Pluma and Pipe Tulua, and members of one of the most dangerous gangs on the continent, Tren de Aragua.

pedro pluma

Pedro Pluma is the name that has made the most noise. The reason is simple: Fernandez reportedly received threats last Wednesday. One of the many pamphlets found by Fernandez read, “From Pedro Pluma to the Director that if he searches the yard again, the family will kill him.” “If you have a militia, we have the malice and we will focus on high-value targets, because we know how to do that. We are hunters and will act where we are least expected,” says another. Fernandez, a 57-year-old retired colonel, had been director of La Modelo for just over a month. According to President Gustavo Petro, in his actions he was in charge of providing discipline and conducting random searches. He ordered some prisoners to change yards in order to eliminate crime gangs from the prison.

Pedro Nel Caro Triana did not like these changes, pedro pluma, presumably the person in charge in patio 4 of La Modelo. The term “pen” is used in Colombian prisons to refer to a prisoner who holds power within the prison; Someone who dominates the courtyard. According to Daniel Gutierrez, director of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (INPEC), Pedro Pluma is serving a sentence of five years and six months for the crimes of theft, prisoner escape and arms trafficking. He has been admitted to jail 16 times. This time he is in jail for about one and a half years. However, his name has been heard a lot in recent hours. Time The report said authorities speculate that Pedro Pluma’s threats were intended to “divert the investigation” and move it away from other suspects.

aragua train

According to information from the Bogotá newspaper, “The main hypothesis (about the murder of Fernández) focuses on the fact that the order to murder the officer came from a criminal network dedicated to extortion in prison.” According to security expert Andrés Nieto, more than 60% of extortion takes place in prisons. For this reason, police sources point to the Aragua train. The gang, which originated in Venezuelan prisons a decade ago, has spread throughout South America in recent years and has managed to reach out to Colombia. thoroughly, Time Reports that members of the Aragua train “are part of the personnel deprived of liberty in patio 4 of La Modelo”, the patio where Pedro Pluma reportedly commands.

The gang “will try to take over the yard, that is, to get Pedro Nel Caro Trina out of the way, pedro pluma, who controls that place. He is the key,” a source assured the newspaper. He said it was possible that the threats Fernández received were not sent by Pedro Pluma, but rather “he impersonated him.” The objective in this case would be for the authorities to transfer him to another prison so that Aragua Trains could take control of Yard 4 of La Modelo.

This Friday morning there was a scuffle in courtyards 4 and 5 of that jail. According to INPEC, “A novelty arrived in one of the pavilions where control operations are carried out, special groups intervened and the situation is now under control.” There was no injury. Around the same time, La Modelo’s deputy director, retired Colonel Oscar Tovar, submitted his resignation.

Pipe Tulua

One of the criminals most strongly linked to the prison extortion network is Andrés Felipe Marín Silva, Pipe Tulua, His name has been raised as a possible suspect in the case because he is the top leader of La Inmaculada, a gang from the city of Tulua in the Cauca Valley, which controls the majority of extortion in Colombia. Last weekend, several members of Pipe Tulua and La Inmaculada were transferred to DIJIN cells, after INPEC accused them of starting a wave of threats against its officials.

Following the charges, the kingpin, who has committed crimes from multiple prisons over the years, released a statement. In it, he flatly denied that he or La Inmaculada were behind the murder of Fernández. “Our organization had nothing to do with the murder of the director of La Modelo prison. “Our organization is conducting ongoing negotiations with the organizations, committing to a ceasefire and ceasing any activities that threaten the integrity of public officials, especially INPEC personnel,” the document said. In another letter recently sent to the United States Ambassador to Colombia, Pipe Tulua admits that he is a murderer and extortionist, but claims that he is not a drug trafficker: “I Would like to emphasize that my criminal record has always been limited to murders and extortion, without any connection with drug trafficking.

Last February, Tulua had to be militarized for a few days after La Inmaculada killed a traffic officer, attempted to kill another and set fire to six taxis. It was a night of chaos. A spate of crimes ensued as retaliation for the capture of Mauricio Marin, dancePipe’s brother.

Subscribe here More for EL PAÍS newsletter about Colombia Here for the channel on WhatsAppAnd get all the information keys on current events in the country.