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| Colombia captures top drug lord | Colombia captures top drug lord |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Colombian authorities have arrested the country's most wanted drug lord, the government has said. | Colombian authorities have arrested the country's most wanted drug lord, the government has said. |
| Daniel Rendon Herrera, known as "Don Mario", was captured early on Wednesday near Necocli in north-western Colombia, officials said. | Daniel Rendon Herrera, known as "Don Mario", was captured early on Wednesday near Necocli in north-western Colombia, officials said. |
| The government had offered a bounty of up to $2m (£1.3m) for information leading to his arrest. | The government had offered a bounty of up to $2m (£1.3m) for information leading to his arrest. |
| Colombia is the world's leading cocaine producer. Drug trafficking has fuelled the country's decades-long conflict. | |
| Daniel Rendon is accused of smuggling hundreds of tonnes of cocaine from an area on the Caribbean coast controlled in the 1990s by his brother - a paramilitary leader who is now in prison. | Daniel Rendon is accused of smuggling hundreds of tonnes of cocaine from an area on the Caribbean coast controlled in the 1990s by his brother - a paramilitary leader who is now in prison. |
| Earlier this year he offered his gunmen almost $1,000 for each police officer they murdered, as security forces closed in on his network. | Earlier this year he offered his gunmen almost $1,000 for each police officer they murdered, as security forces closed in on his network. |
| It was not immediately clear whether the bounty money had been claimed. | It was not immediately clear whether the bounty money had been claimed. |
| 'Bolsters democracy' | 'Bolsters democracy' |
| Once a paramilitary in a branch of the now-demobilised United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), Daniel Rendon had refused to surrender as part of a peace deal. | Once a paramilitary in a branch of the now-demobilised United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), Daniel Rendon had refused to surrender as part of a peace deal. |
| DANIEL RENDON HERRERA Former AUC paramilitary group leaderBrother of jailed paramilitary leader Freddy HerreraLed up to 1,000 heavily armed menOperated in northern fiefdom in Antioquia province | DANIEL RENDON HERRERA Former AUC paramilitary group leaderBrother of jailed paramilitary leader Freddy HerreraLed up to 1,000 heavily armed menOperated in northern fiefdom in Antioquia province |
| Instead he used paramilitary networks to build up a personal army of up to 1,000 heavily-armed fighters, also striking a deal with left-wing Farc rebels, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott reports from the capital, Bogota. | Instead he used paramilitary networks to build up a personal army of up to 1,000 heavily-armed fighters, also striking a deal with left-wing Farc rebels, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott reports from the capital, Bogota. |
| Authorities had been tracking the 43-year-old for months, but he had always managed to stay one step ahead of them until now, he says. | Authorities had been tracking the 43-year-old for months, but he had always managed to stay one step ahead of them until now, he says. |
| More than 500 anti-narcotics police commandos were reportedly involved in the operation to arrest him, which was led by police chief Gen Oscar Naranjo. | More than 500 anti-narcotics police commandos were reportedly involved in the operation to arrest him, which was led by police chief Gen Oscar Naranjo. |
| "This is good news for the security of all Colombians and bolsters democracy," said a spokesman for President Alvaro Uribe. | "This is good news for the security of all Colombians and bolsters democracy," said a spokesman for President Alvaro Uribe. |
| Wanted in US | Wanted in US |
| However, our correspondent adds that when authorities have cut off the head of drugs cartels in the past, several more heads have grown, and there could now be a period of bloodletting as other people try to take over. | However, our correspondent adds that when authorities have cut off the head of drugs cartels in the past, several more heads have grown, and there could now be a period of bloodletting as other people try to take over. |
| Illegal armed groups are heavily involved in the drugs trade in Colombia, using the profits to fund their activities. | Illegal armed groups are heavily involved in the drugs trade in Colombia, using the profits to fund their activities. |
| Much of the cocaine produced in Colombia is smuggled into the US through Mexico, where there has been a sharp rise in drug-related violence. | Much of the cocaine produced in Colombia is smuggled into the US through Mexico, where there has been a sharp rise in drug-related violence. |
| Colombian cocaine is also trafficked to Europe, often through West Africa. | Colombian cocaine is also trafficked to Europe, often through West Africa. |
| The US is the primary funder of Colombia's anti-drugs programme, Plan Colombia, which began in 2000. | The US is the primary funder of Colombia's anti-drugs programme, Plan Colombia, which began in 2000. |
| The UN reported a reduction in the amount of coca grown during the early years of the plan, but said coca cultivation rose by 27% in 2007. | The UN reported a reduction in the amount of coca grown during the early years of the plan, but said coca cultivation rose by 27% in 2007. |
| In Washington, a senior official told the Associated Press news agency that Daniel Rendon was wanted there on drug trafficking charges and the US would seek his extradition. | In Washington, a senior official told the Associated Press news agency that Daniel Rendon was wanted there on drug trafficking charges and the US would seek his extradition. |