‘The Scorpion’ Surrenders In Colombia

A second leader of the Cali cartel, the world’s largest drug gang, surrendered to authorities on Monday.

Henry Loaiza, alias “The Scorpion,” is considered to be a hard-line cartel member who had wanted to respond to police pressure on the cartel with violent revenge attacks. He is accused of involvement in several massacres.

His surrender follows the June 9 capture of Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, believed by U.S. officials to be the strategic planner of the cartel, which supplies 80 percent of the world’s cocaine.

Defense Minister Fernando Botero confirmed the surrender on national television. Radio Caracol said Loaiza travelled to Bogota, the capital, from the southwestern city of Cali to turn himself in.

His surrender follows a wave of terrorism in Colombia, including a bombing June 10 in Medellin that killed 29 people.