The mad scramble for criminal power in the aftermath of the demobilization of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) is over. The Urabeños, or as they prefer to call themselves, the Gaitanistas, have come out on top.
Investigation Chapters
The Gaitanistas – The Criminal Hybrid
The mad scramble for criminal power in the aftermath of the demobilization of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) is over. The Urabeños, or as they prefer to call themselves, the “Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia,” have won.
The BACRIM and Their Position in Colombia’s Underworld
The name BACRIM was created by the government of former President Alvaro Uribe in the aftermath of the demobilization of the AUC. Then-President Uribe was keen to draw a line in the sand, to avoid undermining the AUC peace process.…
The Evolution of the Gaitanistas
Uraba, which means “promised land” in the indigenous tongue, was the cradle of the paramilitaries, and remains the country’s principal BACRIM stronghold. This is where most of the Urabeños command nodes still meet, and it is the seat of the…
The Last BACRIM Standing: The Gaitanistas Today
Today the Urabeños are the only BACRIM with a national reach. They are also arguably the only real BACRIM still standing. While the government recognizes the existence of three BACRIM — the Urabeños, the Rastrojos and the ERPAC dissidents –…
The Future of the BACRIM and Post-Conflict Colombia
While the Urabeños are presently established as Colombia’s top drug trafficking group, it remains to be seen how the evolution of organized crime in Colombia, and the future of the BACRIM, will play out. Below are some predictions.
