[imagesource: Reuters]

In order to be compared to Pablo Escobar, you have to be a pretty big fish.

Prior to his October arrest Dairo Antonio Usuga David, also known as ‘Otoniel’, was Colombia’s most-wanted drug trafficker.

As part of ‘Operation Osiris’, Otoniel was arrested after more than a decade on the run when a military force made up of hundreds of soldiers descended on his jungle hideout.

Colombian President Ivan Duque could hardly contain his excitement. During a press conference in the days that followed, he said the arrest is the biggest blow to drug trafficking in the country since the death of Escobar.

The problem with taking out a drug kingpin is that there’s usually someone waiting in the wings to take over. Worse still, rival cartels often become involved in battles to fill the power vacuum and the drug trade is plunged deeper into chaos.

Was President Duque engaging in a spot of politicking when he trumpeted Otoniel’s arrest? VICE is on the case:

“Otoniel” was Colombia’s most wanted drug lord – until October 2021 when he was arrested in a massive military operation, involving over 500 special forces.

But was he really the new Pablo Escobar? We look at how the Colombian drug trade has transformed since the days of the Medellin and Cali cartels to see how important the fall of this latest kingpin really is.

The global demand for cocaine doesn’t seem to be waning – just have a look around the UK parliament for proof.

As long as there are billions to be made the Colombian drug trade will rage on:

[source:vice]