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The Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) ([link removed]) is Colombia’s most powerful criminal organization.

Authorities estimate the group has more than 7,000 members today, giving it the size and power of an army.

Born from the remnants of Colombia’s paramilitary armies in 2006, the AGC has grown into a sprawling network that dominates drug trafficking, illegal mining, and migrant smuggling across northern Colombia.

It has forged ties with Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta, and Albanian mafias. These alliances keep the AGC’s cocaine flowing to an ever-expanding list of global markets.

After the 2021 capture of its notorious leader, Dairo Antonio Úsuga David, alias “Otoniel,” the AGC quickly regrouped under Jobanis de Jesús Ávila Villadiego, alias “Chiquito Malo.”

But who is Chiquito Malo? And how did he become the leader behind Colombia’s criminal powerhouse?

Read the story of the kingpin pulling the strings behind one of Colombia’s most dominant criminal groups.

Chiquito Malo: Warlord of Colombia’s AGC Crime Conglomerate ([link removed])
Read the story ([link removed])

This exclusive profile includes:
* A special series exploring the complexities of Colombia’s Total Peace plan to negotiate with the country’s armed groups, including the AGC
* Analytical and audiovisual deep dives into the AGC’s criminal portfolio — its routes, modus operandi, and strategies
* Podcast episodes on illegal gold mining in Colombia, with exclusive insights from an active AGC member


And don’t miss our other criminal profiles from Summer InSights 2025. ([link removed])

UP NEXT WEEK | The heirs of one of Mexico’s most infamous crime families, responsible for trafficking lethal synthetic drugs and driving one of the country’s deadliest internal crime wars.
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WEEK 1 | Fito: The Rise and Fall of Ecuador’s Most Wanted Crime Boss

Read full profile ([link removed])
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WEEK 2 | The Prison Kingpin Who Took Tren de Aragua Transnational” ([link removed])

Read full profile ([link removed])


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