Northwestern Bloc of the FARC-EP explained

The Northwestern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the Iván Ríos Bloc[1] has historically been a strong influence in the Medellín and Antioquia regions, and still is today. It has been among the blocs most seriously targeted by former president Álvaro Uribe's defense plan and the Colombian Army's offensive. Due to this, the bloc has been forced to retreat to more remote areas of the countryside and has lost the dominance it once had in the area. The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Because of the current conflict existing in the country, much of the information recovered is conflicting. Some of the believed divisions or "fronts", as they are commonly called, are shown below. Many of these fronts sometimes work together towards a certain mission, while others are further divided into "columns" and "companies" with a smaller number of members. For more general information see FARC-EP Chain of Command.

Commanders

Name Note
Luis Carlos Úsuga Restrepo Bloc commander.[2]
Luciano Marín Arango
Jesus Santrich[3] Seusis Hernández

Columna móvil Mario Vélez

This mobile column is composed of around 300 members. It operates mainly in el Nudo de Paramillo, Yarumal, Valdivia and Anorí.[4]

Alias Name Note
Remorado Column commander.[5]

5th Front

Also known as the Antonio Nariño Front, this front is composed by up to 350 combatants and operates mostly in the Urabá region of the Antioquia Department.

Alias Name Note
Jacobo Arango Front commander.[6] Killed on January 31, 2012.[7]
Jacobo Luis Carlos Durango Úsuga Arrested in 2003.
"La Muerte" or "Hermes" Héctor Elías Úsuga Higuita Killed in April 2011.[8]
"Ramirito" Ramiro Antonio Montoya Moreno Ringleader, killed in November 2011.[9]

9th Front

Also known as the Atanasio Girardot Front, this front is composed 45 to 50[10] combatants and operates mostly in the Antioquia Department. The Colombian military claims that this front has now been dismantled[11] but NGO Nuevo Arco Iris said in 2012 the front is still active[12]

Alias Name Note
Danilo Iván de Jesús Zuluaga Killed in 2009[13]
Gabriel Second in command[14]
Salomón Third in command[15]
Alonso, Chamizo Tulio Murillo Ávila Arrested in 2005.
Caliche Virgilio de Jesús Guzmán Demobilized in 2006.
David Sebastián Hernández Giraldo Arrested on February 14, 2011.[16]
"Elicier" or "El Diablo" Gabriel Arcangel Galvis Montoya Second-in-command. Killed on July 16, 2012.[17]

18th Front

This front is composed by up to 150 combatants and operates mostly in the Córdoba Department.

Alias Name Note
Manteco Jóberman Sánchez Arroyabe
Román Ruiz Front commander

34th Front

Also known as the Alberto Martínez Front, this front is composed by up to 250 combatants and operates mostly in the Chocó and Antioquia Departments.

Alias Name Note
Pedro Baracutado Ancízar García Commands 34th front[18]
El Paisa Jesús Agudelo Rodríguez Killed in 2008.[19]
Amparo Killed in July 2010.[20]
Modesto Ramón Antonio Duarte Borja Captured in July 2010.[21] [22]
Elian Ran away from FARC (March 2011) with his wife alias "Elizabeth".[23]
Elizabeth Ran away from FARC (March 2011) with his husband alias "Elian".[24]

36th Front

This front is composed by up to 160 combatants and operates mostly in the Antioquia Department.

Alias Name Note
"Ánderson" or "Carranza" Front commander[25]
Dúber Rubén Darío Pérez Contreras Killed in 2008.[26]
Argemiro, El Zurdo Martín Francisco Puerta Henao Captured in 2005.
Tres Pelos Héctor Alfonso Villalobos Killed in 2003.
Guacharaco Juan Bautista Peña Serna Killed in April 2010.
Pechi Demobilized in August 2010.[27]
Jaimes Demobilized on October 26, 2010.[28]
El Pájaro Jesús Morales Morales After being wounded, he handed himself to the army on February 8, 2011.[29] [30]
Samper Alberto Montoya Montoya Captured by Interpol in April 2011.
Shampoo Financial leader and explosive expert. Killed in August 2011 along with two others guerilleros.[31]

47th Front

Also known as the Leonardo Posada Pedraza Front, this front is composed by 15 to 90 combatants and operates mostly in the Caldas and Antioquia Departments. The front is, as of 2011, mainly active in the border between southern Antioquia and Caldas, with limited, if any, activity in other departments.[32]

Alias Name Note
Kadafi[33]
Karina Nelly Ávila Moreno Demobilized in 2008.[34]

On May 19, 2008, Karina surrendered herself to the Colombian authorities, two weeks after president Uribe guaranteed her safety on her surrender. According to the governor of Antioquia, Luis Alfredo Ramos, she was also urged by her family to surrender.[35]

57th Front

This front is composed by up to 250 combatants, and operates mostly in the Chocó Department.

Alias Name Note
Benkos 2d in command.[36]
El Becerro Commander 57th Front, escaped bombing in 'operation darién'[37]
Silver Killed on October 3, 2010, in Operation Darien

58th Front

Also known as the Mártires de las Canas Front, this front is composed by up to 150 combatants and operates mostly in the Antioquia and Córdoba Departments.

Alias Name Note
Manteco Jóberman Sánchez Arroyabe

Jacobo Arenas Urban Front

This urban front is considered FARC's greatest influence in the Medellín region.

Alias Name Note
Ramiro, Político Killed in 2006.
Octavio Rolando Acevedo Muñoz Killed in 2005.

Raúl Eduardo Mahecha Front

Operates in Antioquia. In September 2011 this front is believed to have rescued three oil workers who were kidnapped by criminals in August 2011. The guerrillas freed the workers and handed them over the Colombian police.[38]

Columns and Companies

The following columns and companies also form part of the Northwestern Bloc:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Comunicado del Bloque Noroccidental de las FARC EP . es . 2008-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080724012307/http://www.abpnoticias.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=557&Itemid=98 . 2008-07-24 . dead .
  2. Web site: Millonarias recompensas por cabecillas de las Farc. 16 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216213255/http://www.elnuevosiglo.com.co/articulos/10-2011-millonarias-recompensas-por-cabecillas-de-las-farc.html. 16 December 2014. dead. dmy-all.
  3. http://www.eltiempo.com/tiempoimpreso/edicionimpresa/politica/2007-11-11/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3810102.html El Tiempo: Ex ministro de Chávez, cerebro de la visita de las Farc a Caracas
  4. Web site: Anorí, el fortín que las Farc buscan retomar. www.elcolombiano.com. 30 December 2011. 16 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Anorí, el fortín que las Farc buscan retomar. www.elcolombiano.com. 30 December 2011. 16 December 2014.
  6. Web site: Resultados de la busqueda. 16 December 2014.
  7. Web site: Leading FARC commander killed in northwestern Colombia. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  8. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  9. Web site: 'FARC' ringleader killed in northwest Colombia - Colombia News - Colombia Reports. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  10. Web site: Ejército incautó munición de las Farc. www.elcolombiano.com. 6 May 2009. 16 December 2014.
  11. El Tiempo. "'Karina' niega tener relación con la muerte del padre del presidente Álvaro Uribe" May 19, 2008. Available online. Accessed May 19, 2008.
  12. Web site: Colombian Army 'kills FARC commander'. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  13. Web site: Poder 360° - Page One Daily News - FARC Encampment Bombed . 2009-12-17 . 2011-07-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110725021102/http://www.poder360.com/dailynews_detail.php?blurbid=4297 . dead .
  14. Web site: Ejército incautó munición de las Farc. www.elcolombiano.com. 6 May 2009. 16 December 2014.
  15. Web site: Ejército incautó munición de las Farc. www.elcolombiano.com. 6 May 2009. 16 December 2014.
  16. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  17. Web site: Colombian Army 'kills FARC commander'. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  18. Web site: Por temor a posibles retaliaciones del frente 34 de las FARC, 26 familias del caserío las Brisas, en el Atrato Medio chocoano | RCN la Radio - RCN Radio . 2011-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120407035320/http://www.rcnradio.com/noticias/por-temor-posibles-retaliaciones-del-frente-34-de-las-farc-26-familias-del-caser-o-las-bris . 2012-04-07 . dead .
  19. Web site: Colombian army claims death of FARC commander. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  20. Web site: Archivo Digital: Noticias Principales de Colombia y el Mundo en Digital e Impreso - Noticias - ELTIEMPO.COM. eltiempo.com. 16 December 2014.
  21. Web site: Ejército captura a alias Modesto jefe de milicias del Frente 34 de las Farc - SEPTIMA DIVISION. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  22. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  23. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  24. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  25. Web site: Anorí, el fortín que las Farc buscan retomar. www.elcolombiano.com. 30 December 2011. 16 December 2014.
  26. El Tiempo. "Sucesor de 'Martín Caballero' en las Farc murió en combate" February 11, 2008. Available online . Accessed February 12, 2008.
  27. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  28. Web site: Contacto - Ejercito Nacional de Colombia. Micrositios Content Manager. Ejrcito Nacional de Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  29. Web site: Señal Radio Colombia. 16 December 2014.
  30. Web site: FARC ringleader surrenders to armed forces. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  31. Web site: Military kills FARC finance leader. Colombia News - Colombia Reports. 16 December 2014.
  32. Web site: Aparece frente Jacobo Arenas en sureste de Antioquia. 16 December 2014.
  33. http://colombiareports.com/2008/06/05/colombian-army-kills-girlfriend-kadafi/
  34. Web site: Noticias, Deportes y Análisis de Colombia - Caracol Radio. 18 May 2008. 16 December 2014.
  35. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7407666.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | Leading Farc commander surrenders
  36. Web site: impresa.prensa.com - La Prensa. La Prensa. 16 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20110208154502/http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2007/07/31/hoy/panorama/1062056.html. 2011-02-08. dead.
  37. Web site: FARC Wanted Poster [PHOTO]]. Expert Vagabond. 26 February 2013. 16 December 2014.
  38. Web site: Las Farc fueron quienes rescataron a los contratistas, dijo uno de los familiares | RCN la Radio - RCN Radio . 2011-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120426193439/http://www.rcnradio.com/noticias/las-farc-fueron-quienes-rescataron-los-c-110234 . 2012-04-26 . dead .

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