Salvatore Mancuso, the former paramilitary leader of the United Defense Forces of Colombia (UAC), returned to Colombia on Tuesday afternoon after spending 16 years in a United States maximum security penitentiary for drug trafficking. His repatriation comes after President Gustavo Petro appointed Mancuso as a “peace envoy” with illegal armed groups operating in the country.
Mancuso’s arrival in Colombia is anticipated to be accompanied by a large security operation, with the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Dijin) tasked with his custody and transfer to the extradition pavilion of Bogotá’s La Picota prison. The former paramilitary leader’s role as a “Gestor de Paz” has also become a focal point of contention given that the Italian-born drug boss received accreditation from the Special Jurisdiction for Peace tribunal – JEP – to declare his role, and that of other AUC high-ranking commanders, in committing heinous crimes against civilians during the height of Colombia’s internal conflict. Once on Colombian soil, Mancuso faces a slate of pending legal processes with the country’s Attorney General’s Office stemming from his demobilization from the AUC.
Mancuso arrived at the Military Transport Air Command (Catam) in Bogotá, and the government, as confirmed by Minister of Defense Iván Velásquez, has pledged security for the former paramilitary, recognizing the importance for the Italian-born warlord to address his crimes. Mancuso’s defense has argued that his extradition to the United States in 2008 was unjustified and that the Italian-born and Colombian citizen has completed his maximum sentence in a Georgia penitentiary.
The return of Salvatore Mancuso has raised questions about the ultimate objective of justice and reconciliation in post-conflict Colombia. Having been a key figure in the paramilitary structure, Mancuso carries the weight of tens of thousands of victims, with allegations ranging from disappearances to brutal murders and torture.
The paramilitary leader’s past is marred by crimes that also extend beyond the borders of Colombia. With approximately 130 crimes linked to his name, several of which breach International Humanitarian Law, Mancuso’s return sparks concerns about accountability and the pursuit of justice. Investigations following his extradition revealed his involvement in heinous acts, including the ordered killing of prominent human rights activists, as well as the political commentator-comedian Jaime Garzón.
The government’s decision to appoint Mancuso as a peace facilitator aims to bring the Petro government closer to illegal armed groups, including the country’s largest drug cartel, Gulf Clan, and FARC dissidents. Critics of Petro’s appointment also claim that Mancuso’s notorious past contradicts the principles of peace facilitation.
