Summary
A Colombian tribunal sentenced Salvatore Mancuso, a former leader of a paramilitary group, to 40 years in prison for crimes including murders and forced disappearances. Mancuso led the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), which was involved in drug trafficking and committed over 100 crimes in La Guajira province from 2002 to 2006. After serving a drug trafficking sentence in the U.S., Mancuso returned to Colombia in 2024.
Key Facts
- Salvatore Mancuso was a top commander in the AUC, a paramilitary group in Colombia.
- The AUC was involved in drug trafficking and committed violent crimes.
- Mancuso was sentenced to 40 years for murders and disappearances during Colombia's conflict.
- He returned to Colombia in 2024 after serving 15 years in the U.S. for drug trafficking.
- The tribunal documented 117 crimes by the AUC in La Guajira between 2002 and 2006.
- Mancuso could reduce his prison time by cooperating with transitional justice measures.
- Indigenous groups in Colombia suffered during the conflict, often targeted by the AUC.
- Mancuso was labeled a "promoter of peace" by the Colombian government, which faced criticism for this decision.
