The US government has placed a relatively unknown Colombian on the Kingpin list, suggesting that the individual may be one of the so-called "invisibles," high level drug traffickers who have managed to keep a low profile since the era of Pablo Escobar.
On November 6, the US Treasury Department added German Alberto Perez Ocampo to the Kingpin list for supplying cocaine to the Sinaloa Cartel and other Mexican groups for over a decade. According to the Treasury Department press release, Perez is a "prolific" drug trafficker who has worked with the Beltran Leyva Organization and the Familia Michoacana in Mexico, the Cachiros transporter group in Honduras, and the Urabeños in Colombia.
According to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent A. D. Wright, Perez is one of the last remaining members of Colombia's criminal "old guard" and has orchestrated multi-ton cocaine shipments. The US Treasury Department's graphic (see below) indicates that Perez's network transports cocaine from Ecuador to Central America in semi-submersible vessels, and from Colombia and Venezuela to Mexico in airplanes.
Perez's brother Santiago and his import company Compra Venta Gerpez were also targeted with sanctions. According to the US Treasury Department, Santiago used to serve as German's enforcer and currently helps manage his brother's business operations. German and Santiago use the aliases Gustavo Adolfo Ortiz Espinel and Juan Jose Ortiz Espinel.
InSight Crime Analysis
In spite of the fact that he reportedly trafficked large quantities of cocaine for over a decade, very little information is available about Perez. His ability to evade justice for such a long time indicates that he may be among the group of criminals law enforcement officials refer to as "los invisibles" (the invisible ones), the white-collar drug traffickers who have managed to maintain a low profile since the days of Pablo Escobar.
SEE ALSO: Urabeños News and Profiles
The extent of Perez's ties to major drug trafficking groups in Mexico and Honduras and his alleged ability to coordinate multi-ton cocaine shipments suggest that he is a major figure in Colombia's criminal underworld. This position may be facilitated by Perez's reported ties to the Urabeños, the most powerful of Colombia's BACRIM (from the Spanish for criminal bands). Although Perez does not appear to be a member of the Urabeños, he may use their network to orchestrate drug shipments and provide security.
According to Perez's indictment, he has been accused of moving controlled substances in Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras, and Ecuador between 2004 and 2011.
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