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DATE=2/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227270
TITLE=COLOMBIA ARREST (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  POLICE IN COLOMBIA HAVE ARRESTED THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST 
EMERALD MINER AND DEALER ON SUSPICION OF ORGANIZING 
ANTI-GUERRILLA DEATH SQUADS.  THE SUSPECT IS VICTOR CARRANZA, 
KNOWN AS THE EMERALD KING.  WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT 
GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT:  PROSECUTORS HAVE BEGUN INTERROGATING MR. CARRANZA, 
FOLLOWING HIS ARREST TUESDAY AT ONE OF HIS FARMS NORTH OF BOGOTA.
MR. CARRANZA'S LAWYERS SAY HE SURRENDERED VOLUNTARILY, AND WILL 
THEREFORE BE ELIGIBLE FOR LENIENCY IF CONVICTED.  THE 
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE DENIES THIS, AND SAYS HE WAS CAPTURED, ALONG 
WITH TWO BODYGUARDS CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS. 
AN ANONYMOUS PERSON TESTIFIED UNDER COLOMBIA'S WITNESS PROTECTION
PROGRAM LAST NOVEMBER MR. CARRANZA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING
PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE 
COUNTRY.  THESE GROUPS ARE ACCUSED OF WHOLESALE KILLING OF 
INNOCENT CIVILIANS ON SUSPICION THEY SUPPORT LEFTIST GUERRILLA 
GROUPS. 
MR. CARRANZA IS CREDITED WITH EXPELLING THE REBELS FROM THE 
REGION NORTH OF BOGOTA, WHERE MOST OF THE WORLD'S HIGH-QUALITY 
EMERALDS ARE MINED.  A DECADE AGO HE DEFEATED EFFORTS BY DRUG 
TRAFFICKER GONZALO RODRIGUEZ GACHA TO CONTROL THE EMERALD TRADE. 
THE TRAFFICKER WAS KILLED BY POLICE IN 1989. 
IN THE SAME YEAR, MR. CARRANZA WAS ACCUSED OF ORGANIZING DEATH 
SQUADS AFTER A MASS GRAVE WITH AT LEAST 50 BODIES WAS DISCOVERED 
ON ONE OF HIS PROPERTIES.  HE WAS TRIED IN HIS ABSENCE AND 
ACQUITTED.  IN 1990 HE WAS ARRESTED, BUT WAS FREED THE NEXT DAY 
BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PENDING CHARGES AGAINST HIM. 
LAST WEEK AN ARMY MAJOR AND THREE POLICE OFFICERS IN NORTHERN  
COLOMBIA WERE ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF AIDING DEATH SQUADS.  THEY 
ARE THE FIRST MEMBERS OF COLOMBIA'S SECURITY FORCES TO BE 
ARRESTED ON THOSE CHARGES.  HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE LONG ACCUSED
THE SECURITY FORCES OF COMPLICITY WITH THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/GM/RAE
25-Feb-98 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.