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Venezuelan José Rubén ‘Palomo’ Contreras, 61, was captured in the middle of an anti-drug operation carried out in Medellín by the Judicial Police (Dijín), and the United States Anti-Drug Agency (DEA).
Contreras, known by the alias Palomo, is pointed out by the authorities as being a financial partner of Jhon James Pulgarín, alias Servi, head of the so-called Collegiate Body ‘the Office’; in fact, the two were captured last week at a luxurious ‘Servi’ estate.
‘Palomo’ is known as a merchant and cattle dealer in the city of Mérida, Mérida state, in the neighboring country.
“He had several farms for breeding paso horses. In addition to luxurious properties and high-end cars, his standard of living was high, and in Mérida he was recognized as an important businessman, ”a Dijín researcher who was leading the investigation told EL TIEMPO.
The name of José Rubén ‘Palomo’ Contreras He is remembered in the neighboring country because at 16 he entered the professional category of Venezuelan soccer at Deportivo Táchira, he was part of the Venezuelan National Team and he retired with a knee injury that left him lame.
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From a very young age he dedicated himself to business, and it was established that he was detained in the United States, about 10 years ago, for money laundering.
Once again, ‘Palomo’ was on the authorities’ radar when DEA and Dijin agents launched an operation that had several undercover agents who were in the negotiation of the shipment of two tons of cocaine for the Mexican cartel ‘Jalisco Nueva Generación’.
“In June of this year the first meeting was held in Cúcuta. The negotiations for the two tons of cocaine began there. Everything was being monitored. It was attended by ‘Palomo’, ‘Servi’ and two of their partners, ‘Dumbo’ and ‘James’ ”, said the researcher.
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The negotiations for the two tons of cocaine began there. Everything was being monitored. It was attended by ‘Palomo’, ‘Servi’ and two of their partners, ‘Dumbo’ and ‘James’
According to the agents, ‘Palomo’ was conducting negotiations to acquire the cocaine in the laboratories of the Catatumbo region, where he would be paying the ‘grammage’ tax to the ELN and to the dissidents.
The shipping route had already been established, through the clandestine tracks located in the state of Zulia and Puerto La Cruz, in Venezuela.
“To gain confidence, They organized a trip with the Mexican emissaries and even with their own families, ‘Servi’, ‘Dumbo’ and ‘James’ to a farm in ‘Palomo’ located in San Cristóbal (Venezuela). They traveled by land in the middle of the pandemic, at the end of July, ”said the Dijin official.
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What the drug traffickers did not know at that time is that they were “infiltrated” by the undercover agents who were compiling the body of evidence against them.
After that meeting they had several disagreements with ‘Dumbo’, whom they removed from the organization.
According to the investigators, the purchasing power of ‘Palomo’ was such that he had a ship, which he came to offer in case it was necessary to comply with the delivery of cocaine to Mexicans.
The relationship between ‘Servi’ and ‘Palomo’ was strengthened in such a way that the latter traveled with his entire family to Medellín to attend the wedding of ‘James’.
“We knew about that wedding, so it was decided to take the captures two days before it. It was established that on this occasion the host would be ‘Servi’, who had adapted one of his farms for a previous meeting and host the guests, ”said the researcher.
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At the time of the arrests, ‘Palomo’ already had an extradition request – since November 5, 2020 – for the Eastern District of Virginia, in the United States, where he is being prosecuted for drug trafficking.
Today, ‘Palomo’ spends his days with ‘Servi’ in the cells of the Dijín, waiting to be transferred to the La Picota prison, while his extradition process is carried out.
JUSTICE
