Colombia captures top drug lord "Don Mario"

**Nikos** · April 15, 2009, 07:44 PM

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldN...53E3S920090416

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian police captured the country's most wanted drug lord on Wednesday, a former right-wing paramilitary who once offered his gunmen a $1,000 (667 pounds) reward for each policeman they killed.
Daniel Rendon Herrera, 43, alias "Don Mario," was found alone, eating rice out his hands, hiding under a palm tree in the jungles of northern Antioquia province, Defence Minster Juan Manuel Santos said.
When he was surrounded, the once-feared cocaine baron was living "virtually like a dog, curled up and clinging to that palm tree, where he had been for two days," Santos told reporters.

A fitting end to his criminal career. I don't think this will have too much of an impact on the drug war though, they are like a Hydra, cut off the head, another grows back to take it's place. Good news though!

**Thorn777** · April 15, 2009, 09:48 PM

Good news is always welcome.

On a side note. Columbia is really recovering lately. Many former war-zone areas are appeased again as the local authorities learned from their mistakes, and made sure crime lost its appeal by raising the standard of living for the poor people, who seem to be paying the efforts back by sending their kids to school etc.

Not saying all is done...first we westerners should stop the snoring.

**Nikos** · April 15, 2009, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Thorn777

Good news is always welcome.

On a side note. Columbia is really recovering lately. Many former war-zone areas are appeased again as the local authorities learned from their mistakes, and made sure crime lost its appeal by raising the standard of living for the poor people, who seem to be paying the efforts back by sending their kids to school etc.

Not saying all is done...first we westerners should stop the snoring.

I think you meant snorting.
That's interesting though, perhaps we could learn something from Colombia and apply it to Afghanistan which also has a sever drug problem. good job Colombia!

**Thorn777** · April 15, 2009, 09:55 PM

[quote=Nikos;4967828]

I think you meant snorting.

hmmm probably, yes. Its snorting??? Funny language...

But maybe we should stop snoring to.

That's interesting though, perhaps we could learn something from Colombia and apply it to Afghanistan which also has a sever drug problem. good job Colombia!

Ill doubt that. Those folks are different, waaaaaaaaay different.

**Nikos** · April 15, 2009, 09:59 PM

[quote=Thorn777;4967842]

Originally Posted by Nikos

hmmm probably, yes. Its snorting??? Funny language...

But maybe we should stop snoring to.

Ill doubt that. Those folks are different, waaaaaaaaay different.

Yeah, but maybe it could teach us alternatives to the raising and production of drugs which is a real problem in A-stan. The poppy farmers need another occupation.

**Thorn777** · April 15, 2009, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Nikos

Yeah, but maybe it could teach us alternatives to the raising and production of drugs which is a real problem in A-stan. The poppy farmers need another occupation.

The problem is rooted in what their society tells them for hundreds of years. No handsome GI named Brian can tell them and especially the Warlords otherwise.

We should get Bin-Laden and get the hell out of their country, lets stop pretending.