Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The plot swirling around suspected drugs trafficker Hermágoras González Polanco thickens as the investigation of his possible links with criminality of one sort of another continues. The alleged narcotics kingpin is thought also to have been associated with rightwing Colombian paramilitaries belonging to so-called self-defense forces.
The investigation centers on the dairy ranch south of Lago Maracaibo where he was de-tained last Saturday at the behest of Interpol.
The state security directive, Disip, is holding him under a court order at its headquarters at El Helicoide in Caracas.
Reports from Zulia state in western Venezuela say that, in searching the ranch known as La Trinchera, the National Guard (GN) found 55 people who are thought to be members of a Colombian paramilitary group known as the Self-Defense Units of Colombia (AUC). They were taken in for questioning in Maracaibo. Reports suggest these people (to which gender they belong has not been disclosed) could be members of an AUC unit called Bloque Wayúu. The Colombian intelligence service, DAS, is assisting the attempt to identify them.
In the meantime, the chief suspect's true identity and origin remain a matter of conjecture. Interior and Justice Minister Ramón Rodríguez Chacín believes that González Polanco, who was in possession of Venezuelan identity documents when he was captured, is a Colombian citizen. La Trinchera was legally acquirerd eight years ago.
As to his real identity, that, too, is something of a mystery. The United States has issued an offer of a $5 million reward in his given name, which was also used on the Interpol warrant. But Rodríguez Chacín said he believed González Polanco was really Armando González Apushana.
Reports from Bogotá said police found 63 rifles and ammunition at an arms cache linked to a gang formerly led by drug trafficker Wilber Varela, who was found shot dead last January in Mérida, west Venezuela.
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