Colombian authorities have arrested Guillermo Camacho, also known as ‘Memo Fantasma’, a former hitman and associate of the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, on drug charges in Bogotá. Camacho, who had been living under a false identity for years, was wanted by the U.S. and Colombia for his involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Rise and Fall of ‘Memo Fantasma’
Camacho began his criminal career as a hitman for the Medellín Cartel, the powerful and violent drug organization led by Escobar, in the 1980s. He was responsible for several assassinations and bombings, targeting judges, politicians, journalists, and rivals. He was also involved in the smuggling of cocaine to the U.S. and Europe, using planes, boats, and submarines.
After Escobar’s death in 1993, Camacho continued his illicit activities, forming alliances with other drug traffickers and paramilitary groups. He became the leader of a faction of the Oficina de Envigado, a criminal organization that inherited the Medellín Cartel’s structure and territory. He also created his own company, called Inversiones C&M, which he used to launder his drug money through real estate and construction projects in Colombia and Spain.
However, Camacho’s luck ran out in 2018, when an investigation by the Colombian magazine Semana and the British NGO Insight Crime exposed his true identity and criminal history. The investigation revealed that Camacho had been living under the name of Sebastián Colmenares, a successful businessman and family man, who owned several properties and companies in Bogotá, Madrid, and Panama. The investigation also uncovered his links to other notorious drug lords, such as Daniel Barrera, alias ‘El Loco’, and Diego Montoya, alias ‘Don Diego’
The Capture and Extradition of ‘Memo Fantasma’
Following the investigation, the U.S. and Colombia issued arrest warrants for Camacho, accusing him of drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy. The U.S. also offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture
On December 14, 2023, Colombian authorities announced that they had captured Camacho in Bogotá, after a joint operation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office. According to the authorities, Camacho was arrested while he was leaving his luxury apartment in an exclusive neighborhood of the capital. The authorities also seized several documents, computers, and phones from his residence
The authorities said that Camacho will be extradited to the U.S., where he will face trial and a possible life sentence for his crimes. They also said that Camacho’s arrest is a major blow to the drug trafficking networks in Colombia and abroad, and a victory for justice and the rule of law
Colombian authorities have arrested Guillermo Camacho, also known as ‘Memo Fantasma’, a former hitman and associate of the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, on drug charges in Bogotá. Camacho, who had been living under a false identity for years, was wanted by the U.S. and Colombia for his involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. Camacho began his criminal career as a hitman for the Medellín Cartel, the powerful and violent drug organization led by Escobar, in the 1980s. He was responsible for several assassinations and bombings, targeting judges, politicians, journalists, and rivals. He was also involved in the smuggling of cocaine to the U.S. and Europe, using planes, boats, and submarines. After Escobar’s death in 1993, Camacho continued his illicit activities, forming alliances with other drug traffickers and paramilitary groups. He became the leader of a faction of the Oficina de Envigado, a criminal organization that inherited the Medellín Cartel’s structure and territory. He also created his own company, called Inversiones C&M, which he used to launder his drug money through real estate and construction projects in Colombia and Spain. However, Camacho’s luck ran out in 2018, when an investigation by the Colombian magazine Semana and the British NGO Insight Crime exposed his true identity and criminal history. The investigation revealed that Camacho had been living under the name of Sebastián Colmenares, a successful businessman and family man, who owned several properties and companies in Bogotá, Madrid, and Panama. The investigation also uncovered his links to other notorious drug lords, such as Daniel Barrera, alias ‘El Loco’, and Diego Montoya, alias ‘Don Diego’. Following the investigation, the U.S. and Colombia issued arrest warrants for Camacho, accusing him of drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy. The U.S. also offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture. On December 14, 2023, Colombian authorities announced that they had captured Camacho in Bogotá, after a joint operation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office. The authorities said that Camacho will be extradited to the U.S., where he will face trial and a possible life sentence for his crimes. They also said that Camacho’s arrest is a major blow to the drug trafficking networks in Colombia and abroad, and a victory for justice and the rule of law.
