Colombian warlord Salvatore Mancuso returned to his homeland on Tuesday after completing a drug trafficking sentence in the United States, where his appeals to be sent to Italy, his other citizenship, was denied.
Mancuso, alongside numerous Colombians deported from the US for illegal border crossings, landed in Bogota’s El Dorado Airport on a charter flight. Upon arrival, he was swiftly taken into police custody, sporting a green helmet and bulletproof vest.
In Colombia, both human rights groups and government officials anticipate Mancuso’s cooperation with the justice system, hoping he’ll provide crucial information about the numerous crimes committed during the paramilitary conflict with leftist rebels in rural Colombia during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Fernando Garcia, director of Colombia’s national immigration service, expressed optimism, calling Mancuso’s return “an important step towards reconciliation and lasting peace.”
Mancuso, aged 59, once a prominent figure in the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, a paramilitary group formed by cattle ranchers to combat leftist rebels, faces numerous charges in Colombia, including responsibility for over 1,500 acts of murder and disappearances.
He aims to secure a reduced sentence and possible release through Colombia’s transitional justice system, established under the 2016 peace deal. Victims of Colombia’s conflict are eager for Mancuso to reveal insights into the countless murders and forced disappearances carried out by paramilitary groups.
While Mancuso has hinted at the involvement of high-ranking politicians in war crimes during previous hearings, his 2008 extradition to the US on drug charges had stalled investigations. Jose Melendez, a human rights lawyer representing war victims in northern Colombia, voiced anticipation for Mancuso’s testimony, urging him to disclose information about the collaboration of multinational companies, business people, and government officials in supporting paramilitary groups.
Mancuso, the son of an Italian immigrant, had sought deportation to Italy, citing safety concerns in Colombia. However, US officials decided to honour Colombia’s extradition request, emphasizing its importance for ongoing war crimes investigations.
Laura Bonilla, a researcher at Colombia’s Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, highlighted the risks Mancuso faces if he reveals too much information, underscoring the complexities surrounding his return and cooperation with authorities.
