Salvatore Mancuso | |
|---|---|
 Mancuso arriving in the US after being extradited from Colombia on May 13, 2008. | |
| Nickname(s) | "el Mono Mancuso" "Santander Lozada" "Triple Cero" |
| Born | August 17, 1964 Montería, Córdoba Colombia |
| Allegiance | United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) Paramilitarism Narcotrafficking |
| Rank | Bloc commander and United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia leader |
| Unit | Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá |
| Battles / wars | Cold War/War on drugs |
Salvatore Mancuso Gómez, also known as "el Mono Mancuso", "Santander Lozada" or "Triple Cero" (i.e. "Triple Zero", or, "000"), among other names (born August 17, 1964 in Montería, Córdoba) is a Colombian paramilitary leader, once second in command of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary group. The paramilitary groups commanded by Mancuso fought the guerrillas (mainly EPL, FARC and ELN), and financed their activities by receiving donations from land owners, drug trafficking, extortions and robbery.
The AUC committed numerous atrocities and massacres against presumed guerrilla members and the civilian population. Mancuso was initially jailed in a Maximum Security Prison in Itagüí, Antioquia after a peace process that led to his demobilization and then transferred to a prison in the city of Cúcuta to help establish the whereabouts of some of the victims. In a surprise move by the Colombian government, Mancuso, along with 13 other top members of the AUC was extradited to the United States to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.[1]
- ^ "Massive extradition of paramilitary bosses". Colombia Reports. May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-13.