Interpol red notices re-issued against Colombian FARC dissident chief “Iván Márquez”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Colombian Police Director General Jorge Luis Vargas said Wednesday in a statement that the red notices (international arrest warrants) were issued at the request of the Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office for the crimes of “aggravated homicide, homicide of a protected person, forced disappearance, and illegal recruitment of people”.

The Colombian authorities through Interpol requested the Venezuelan authorities to locate and capture “Iván Márquez” who violated the peace agreement with the FARC, after having been one of its negotiators in Havana.

According to the Colombian government, the men known as “Iván Marquez”, “El Paisa” and “Romaña,” who led the FARC dissidents that broke away from the peace agreement signed between the government and the guerrilla force in November 2016, as well as other guerrilla leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN), are protected in Venezuela.

“We have formally asked Interpol’s central office in Venezuela to locate and capture alias Ivan Marquez, who is in Venezuela, to be extradited to Colombia and answer for these crimes,” General Vargas said.

Likewise, the high official said that in the next few days other arrest warrants against the guerrilla chief will be converted into international red notices for trafficking weapons and illicit drugs in the border between Colombia and Venezuela.

For “Iván Márquez” the U.S. is offering a reward of up to US$10 million, while Colombian authorities are offering close to US$77,000 for information leading to his capture.