Diego Murillo Bejarano

Don Berna officially surrendered several hundred Bloque Cacique Nutibara members in one of the first collective demobilisations under the AUC process. Years later, former paramilitary Freddy Rendón, "El Alemán", claimed that the operation had been largely staged by recruiting or recycling individuals to inflate the numbers.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Following an arrest warrant that had contributed to his surrender in 2005, Murillo was tried for the murders of deputy Orlando Benítez Mora, his sister and his driver. Acquitted at first instance in 2007, he was ultimately sentenced on appeal to 45 years' imprisonment in 2010.

Legal status — source text

45-year Colombian sentence after a prior acquittal was reversed

Attribution

Accused

Investigations into the paramilitary process indicate that Murillo maintained or fostered parallel criminal networks, notably Los Traquetos and Los Paisas, while his official organisations were entering demobilisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Murillo established the Bloque Cacique Nutibara as an urban paramilitary wing linked to his criminal power in Medellín, before officially joining the AUC command. The group fought rival organisations and imposed violent control over several neighbourhoods.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Operation Orión, conducted by state forces in Medellín's Comuna 13, paramilitary organisations linked to Don Berna strengthened their territorial control. This episode is central to subsequent investigations into disappearances, violence and cooperation or tolerance by certain public officials.

Following a break with Escobar's associates, Murillo joined the clandestine alliance known as Los Pepes, which carried out a violent campaign against the Medellín Cartel's property and members during the hunt for Escobar.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Before becoming a paramilitary leader, Diego Murillo Bejarano was involved with the EPL and subsequently worked in the networks of traffickers Fernando Galeano and Gerardo Moncada, who were linked to the Medellín Cartel. This marked his entry into regional armed and criminal structures.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated