The Prosecutor’s Office Lifts Arrest Warrants for Segunda Marquetalia Leaders
In a bid to advance peace talks between the Government and the Segunda Marquetalia criminal structure led by Iván Márquez, the Prosecutor’s Office has lifted arrest warrants for several key leaders. This move allows them to move freely throughout the national territory without fear of arrest.
Among the leaders who have had their arrest warrants suspended are Giovanni Andrés Rojas, alias Araña, the main leader of the Border Command structure; José Vicente Lesmes, known as Walter Mendoza, third in command of the Segunda Marquetalia; and José Aldinever Sierra, alias Zarco Aldinever, who is believed to be second in command under Iván Márquez.
Also included in the list are William Danilo Malaver, alias Gerson González; Alberto Cruz Lobo, alias Enrique Marulanda; and Luis André Figueroa, alias Popeye. These individuals face charges ranging from kidnapping to conspiracy to commit a crime and rebellion.
The news of the suspended arrest warrants comes amidst reports from military and intelligence sources that several of the ringleaders, including Enrique Marulanda, Walter Mendoza, and Zarco Aldinever, may be in Venezuela. Others, such as Allende Perilla Sandoval and José Darley Malagón Jiménez, are believed to be in Colombia.
Notably absent from the list is Iván Márquez, despite his extensive criminal record. The Prosecutor’s Office recently brought charges against him in connection to a massacre in 2005, where Márquez is alleged to have been part of the General Staff of the FARC guerrilla group.
The Segunda Marquetalia emerged after Márquez and other former FARC leaders reneged on the peace agreement signed with the Santos Government. Márquez’s decision to take up arms again has led to a resurgence of violence and instability in regions once affected by the guerrilla conflict.
President Gustavo Petro has expressed a willingness to negotiate peace with the Segunda Marquetalia, signaling a potential shift in the government’s approach to dealing with the criminal group. As the peace talks progress, the decision to lift arrest warrants for key leaders may pave the way for a resolution to the longstanding conflict between the Government and the Segunda Marquetalia.