Spanish justice granted parole to alias “El Nene”, leader of La Cordillera

Jonathan Andrés Zuluaga Celemín, known in the underworld under the alias “El Nene”, captured within the framework of the operation “Without Borders” —coordinated by Interpol as well as by Spanish and Colombian authorities—won the benefit of parole by the Spanish National High Court.

“Nene” recognized as the leader of the gang “La Oficina de la Cordillera” is directly or indirectly attributed to the figure of 100 murders, one of which is of his mother-in-law, was captured in March 2021 after an Armenian judge issued a ballot of capture against him on charges of concert to commit crime, homicide, manufacture, trafficking and carrying or possession of firearms, accessories, parts or ammunition.

Despite these allegations, the highest judicial authority in the European country determined that “Nene” must appear before the nearest Police Commissioner every three days and ordered that his permanent domicile be established in Madrid, Spain.

In addition, his passport was withheld in order to prevent him from leaving the country and he was required to open a telephone number where he could be reached by the Spanish Police. Another measure imposed was the assignment of an electronic monitoring bracelet to “Nene” in order to locate him as he travels through the Spanish capital.

Jonatan Andrés Zuluaga Celemín was requested in extradition by the Colombian justice system to answer the charges of the court in Armenia, a request authorized by the Spanish National High Court in September 2021.

The criminal was captured on March 11, 2019, in the parking lot of a shopping center in the city of Leganés, a town located in the south of Madrid, with 5,270 euros (about $6,225), after having given a false identity to the police officers.

At that time, he was charged with the crimes of homicide, management of criminal organization and illegal possession of firearms. It should be noted that alias “Nene” when he was captured he had in his possession a Venezuelan ID.

For the extradition request, the Minister of Justice, Wilson Ruiz, reported on the decision of the Spanish High Court and promised to speed up the procedures to comply with the act promulgated in Madrid. “Nené” objected to the ruling but the judicial authority gave the green light for the Spanish government's Council of Ministers to approve the Colombian intervention.

According to the authorities, Jonathan Andrés Zuluaga Celemín “is credited with intellectual and material authorship of more than 100 deaths, including that of his mother-in-law (Sindy Tatiana Gómez Valencia), who allegedly committed as revenge for a possible theft of money owned by his organization.”

In the country, he had two sentences of 7 and 25 years 'imprisonment, which was why he had international arrest warrants, one of which was issued by the third criminal judge with the function of assurances control of Armenia. The man had, under his name, a blue Interpol circular.

In a report by SEMANA, the order against alias “Nene” presents the following charges: One crime of homicide under articles 103 to 105, which would include a penalty of 13 to 25 years, another for a concert to commit a crime that carries a sentence of 8 to 18 years and a fine; and one more for trafficking, manufacture or carrying of narcotics, which provides for a penalty of 8 to 20 years 'imprisonment and a fine.

Previously, the defense of “Nene” managed to block another extradition attempt by the Colombian justice system in 2012.

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