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Sunday, June 3, 2018

US Helps Colombia Arrest Longtime Medellín Underworld Figure ‘Popeye’

Posted by Slappy  republished from Insight Crime

Pablo Escobar's hitmen chief




Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez, alias “Popeye,” was arrested in Medellín on May 25 on charges of extortion and criminal conspiracy. Mayor Federico Gutiérrez confirmed the arrest in a tweet.

According to local media outlets, Popeye was arrested after appearing with his lawyer at the organized crime prosecutors’ office in Medellín, seeking to find out if he was being investigated.

In an interview last year, a source within the Oficina de Envigado — the collection of Medellín crime groups that controls most of the city’s underworld — told InSight Crime that Popeye was blackmailing frontmen for the late Escobar who had held on to assets linked to the Medellín Cartel’s illicit activities.

Sources close to the case who spoke to Colombian news media appeared to confirm this account.

“He was trying to recover property [and] money that he left years ago in the hands of narcos, and that very likely was inherited or received by their relatives, who are the ones who have been pressing and are the ones who denounced him,” a source told El Tiempo.

The same source told El Tiempo that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency participated in the investigation.

Popeye has claimed to have been the head of Pablo Escobar’s network of hitmen within the Medellín Cartel. He was sentenced to 52 years in prison in 1992 and confessed to participating in around 300 murders and ordering some 3,000 others.

After he was released early from prison in 2016, Popeye became a type of internet sensation and narco culture star, particularly in right-wing Colombian political circles.


InSight Crime Analysis

The arrest of Popeye provides further evidence that US authorities have helped their Colombian counterparts secure a series of high-profile arrests of key figures in Medellín’s underworld, which has created a cycle of these individuals turning on one another.

Indeed, authorities in Colombia arrested top Oficina figure Juan Carlos Mesa Vallejo, also known as “Tom” or “Carlos Chata,” with help from US authorities in December 2017. And information obtained from InSight Crime’s source in the Oficina suggests this may have contributed to the takedown of Popeye.

The source said that Popeye was protected by Tom, and that the two were cooperating to extort old Medellín Cartel figures who had held on to Escobar’s assets after his 1993 death. After Tom was arrested and threatened with extradition to the United States, it’s possible that he helped authorities build the case against Popeye.

With help from the United States, authorities in Colombia have brought down other central figures in Medellín’s criminal landscape, like Diego Fernando Murillo, alias “Don Berna,” and Erick Vargas Cardenas, alias “Sebastian.” But these high-profile arrests have opened up space for the “Invisibles,” an emerging generation of Colombian drug traffickers who have adopted a more clandestine profile than their predecessors.

62 comments:

  1. This piece of dog shit says he killed children. Someone shld put him to sleep.

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  2. He was too out there loving the attention, doesn't surprise me.

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  3. Probably wasnt to hard to track this guy down since he loves all the attention. How can someone be walking around after committing 300 murders...

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    1. Ecobar is called, "Pablito" in Medellin. He is loved there. Why? I have no idea, but Popeye was a hero to some there especially the right wing, again, I have no idea why.

      Popeye was shaking down relatives of people who had his money 30 years ago. What a dumb ass.

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    2. 10:44 that the truth, pppeye was aligning with Alvaro Uribe Velez, they know each other since both were young workers of "pablito" and El John Jairo has a sixth sense for the powerful man, that the man with the ass to kiss.

      Delete
  4. They should extradite this dirtbag. He should be doing life in prison, not out on the street.

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    1. Extradite him for what? He isn't wanted in the USA and the US isn't going to extradite him for crimes committed in Colombia.

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    2. 7:34 thanks for your comprehension and understanding.
      Now El Man can continue extorting from a Colombian prison he may land in one with milicos y paracos arrepentidos that alvaro uribe velez can't forgive because they confessed their crimes AND HIS...

      Delete
  5. Recall him on the tv series of Finding Escobar’s Millions. A somewhat reluctant fellow who only aided the search for a percentage of any findings. A bust for the series and viewers.

    You think these individuals would have legitimized their earnings into a business.

    E43

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    1. Wait, there is a 43?

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    2. No 42.
      Punched wrong key on my phone.
      No other offspring that I am aware.
      Sorry

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    3. 5:23 me gustas más como el 41,
      Come back baby, please.

      Delete
  6. Popeye was cough with Tom at toms bday party. False that Tom got arrested first. Maybe Popeye was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Popeye knew who he was hanging around with though.

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  7. Why was he released if he was sentenced to 52 yrs?

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    1. 6:52 plead and betray and rat people, look pretty, become born again, and mainly kiss someone's ass, that gets you early release, also leaving your Godfather to his luck after some embraces and kissing and heavy petting helps you stay alive...
      --Now El giniral popeye will die in prison if he gets extradited again, but he was warning "El Chapo es hombre muerto si agarra un telefon", pinchi mamón.

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    2. Popeye you missed the boat.You should have accepted that and moved on.You got 52 years and must have got out on good behaviour.At least you are alive and let sleeping dogs lie from 20-30 years ago.Somebody else got the stash.Aren't you pushing your luck a little?These guys could have you eliminated and what about all the friends and relatives of the 3,300 people you removed permanently from the earth?I would be looking over both shoulders if I were you!Your sense of importance is all over with.

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    3. canadiana, he is famous enough to make a decent living in Medellin doing what he had been doing. Acting and being a local celebrity, guess that just wasn't enough. Here is his youtube channel...

      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm4BXaCpgI7exZ_Nu3dkXcQ

      Delete
    4. 12:21 most of the people eliminated in Colombia were eliminated by the whole family, Alvaro Uribe Velez was not going to have survivors trying to reclaim family properties,
      Since Uribe Velez daddy's assassination, many properties got new owners, el varito owns them.

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  8. Why the name Popeye?

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    1. He has huge forearms like Popeye and looked sorta like him when he was younger.

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    2. He was in the marina de Colombia

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    3. He doesn't have huge forearms but when he was young looked like a retarded version of Popeye and in the Navy he picked up the Nick. Later he had plastic surgery to remove the resemblance.

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    4. He probably likes to eat a lot of spinach with hot sauce..

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    5. 5:57 just like El Compayito, he was a Mexican Navy Marina.

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    6. HE'S crazy about spinach!

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  9. They should give him the ultimate promotion to the super max in Colorado. Then he can brag about all the murders to himself.

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  10. Theres no thumbs up button but i give u 2 thumbs up come on chivis ,double d make a button lol

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  11. same people whose life revolves around watching "narco series", if corridos are being banned how bout all these mini series

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  12. He was acting like a celebrity, trying to be a social media darling at least LOL.

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  13. See the thing is people are suckers for a good redemption story but i mean when youve personally killed over 300 people yourself... i dont think theres any coming back from that and when he first started youtube his name was popeye arrepentido meaning popeye regretful/remorseful and tried to make amends with families of his victims but it was clearly a strategy to get heat off him for getting out of jail and after a while he went from popeye remorseful to "the living legend of the medellin cartel" and you could tell there was an attitude change right around the time he got found at that narco party

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  14. He was trying to recover old property and money that cartel put on other people names 30 years ago. Alot those people when to prison some die and they left property to their kid or other family. Popeye comes out goes pay them a visit they call that extorsion. He was also involved and active in drug scene in medellin. Rember as soon he came out they broke in the house pablo escobar was kill and many other properties. ICE was some how involved in his investigation. So the US might have a indictment againts him thay they have not made public. He walk right into their office.
    El HiPPie

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    1. Cry me a fuckin river!
      Playboy there should have obtained that property and belongins with legit money and he would have not had to worry about hiding shit!
      Had the dumbass not demanded all his shit back nobody would have turned him in.
      Like in all walks of life you take some losses but remain free!

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    2. The secret to wealth in Colombia is to make a private security corporation and get sum big contracts with sum rich peepol, from there you extort the best of the very best into paying you your money back, it doesn't belong to El Popeye, but he must collect for the Oficina DE Envigado to continue the good works of Don Pablito's foundation, after all he was one more US puppet all his life until he wasn't.

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  15. He was treated like a rock star when he walked around Medellin. People wanted selfies with him, his autograph, girls were all giggly and flirting with him. His attitude was, 'If they get me, they get me.' Typical psychopath. Superficially charming, and unable to feel fear.

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  16. Pos no se leer en inglés pero veo que el comentario comenta de el Chapo. Saludos a todos los aliados de los menores y arriba Sinaloa!

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  17. Where is my, “ahi para andar de caliente” guy at...His usual comment fits perfect for this situation.

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    1. 10:57 just for you honey:
      John Jairo Velazquez Vazquez "el Popeye", cogido otra vez.
      Eso se saca por andar ahi de caliente.

      Delete
  18. He's a lolly pop, big head small body. He let that Hollywood shit get too his head!that dumbass wasn't making no money.

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  19. Jhon Jairo "El general" popeye was "supporting Alvaro Uribe Velez"
    his big sin, Pablo Escobar's people were left free for so long, allowed to keep their ill gotten gains, because they prolly ratted the Boss in cahoots with "El Varito", maybe ibviously El general was never able to catch rats, or he would have inherited Pablo's Oficina which Uribe never bothered,
    Fight FARC, ELN? yes, Oficina de Envigado, never.

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  20. I thought was strange when he was on tv braging about killings

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  21. Popeye is dumb.

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  22. who should the people look up to crooked politicians or corrupt law enforcement ? now that is the definition of sick cause at least a criminal is not hiding behind a name title and a badge FACT!!!

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  23. I will never understand how this dude didn't get got while he was out, walking around flaunting his stuff. The scumbag piece of shit had to have enemies.. This guy committed acts of terrorism against his own people.

    Say what you will about the United States, but there is no way in hell he'd be viewed upon as a hero here. He'd be sitting in Guantanamo getting water boarded day and night.

    Phelpso

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    Replies
    1. Americans and the whole world love mafiosos. Women would want to meet one and most guys would want to be one. Just look at the sopranos and all the other monster shows/movies, now Hollywood has a movie about gotti coming out!

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    2. @8:25. I'm with you. I thought for sure somebody close to his victims would put a bullet in his skull. Or some vestigial person from the defunct Los Pepes. I think Popeye was being protected, probably by old friends from the Escobar days.


      Delete
    3. I:25 been there, done that...
      Popeye was in US prison for more than 20 years, doing 52 years sentence, never learned anything, can't even do extortion right.

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    4. BLUTO SNITCHED

      Delete
  24. The tattoos on arm look recent too so he was trying to get back in the game apparently.

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    1. 10:07 imaginate como traerá Las nalgas "El Papayas"
      Todas llenas de tattoos,

      Delete
  25. 7:14 here we go again with politicians are criminals as well and shit. Dude without politicians there would be no countries to live, but perhaps there would be warlords, kingdoms and or empires with a maniac zcar of sorts that rules with an iron fist. Bet you would still be bitching in all these cases about the power or corruption one person in charge has because you were born a peasant and don't have shit! What do you suggest instead of a country run by politicians?
    Grow up!

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  26. I believe the US cannot trust mexican police. The US has always with Columbia police.

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    1. 8:07 the US pays for both, trains them within their guidelines and provides the train in corps, several degrees removed from official armies and intelligency. That is old history, what is wrong with you? Is 7 American military bases in Colombia not good enough for you? And never mind the secret death squads...

      Delete
    2. 8:07 the Policia Nacional de Colombia was sex trafficking it's cadets male and female, one female got murdered, they had a catalog with their photos and stats, rented by the hour, day, week, the general jefe Palomino had to resign when he was exposed by the canallas, it was ongoing when general Oscar Naranjas was director of the academy...
      --In Mexico many police officers are caquines for rent,
      but they have not been exposed as "organized"

      Delete
  27. We admire the way criminals dog their government allies, and the adventure, but we most of us would not get arrested once, much less twice, fact that shit.
    El pinchi popeye may still make some dineros, how about he puts all the dirty secrets and all the dirty names of all the rich dirty Culombianuses he knows in A BOOK?

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  28. 11:13 some people were got born with sliver spoons in their mouths, others with a silver foot in their mouths according to former texas governor Ann Richardson...
    But you my friend, you was port with a politician up your ass.
    Politicians are not supposed to be corrupt and work, serve or protect themselves, their own, and their buddies, and just because some do, and others accept it as their normal it doesn't make it right, matter of fact that is the root of today's feudalism and barbarian battles.

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  29. 3:48 Never said there were'nt corrupt politicians pendejo. Some where not born with a silver spoon in their mouth either. The waynyou say shit makes it sound that you do not trust anyone and perhaps a justification for joining cartels and other crime syndicates.
    Provide a different form of government or help rid countries of corruption is what you should do instead of just bitching.

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  30. 6:10 i'm envious, because I wasn't born with a politician up mu as and I don't aspire to see much of revolution in my life time, and i certainly do not aspire to cook any triumphant revolution anywhere anytime.

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  31. 1:52 you should not be envious with a narco up your a..

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  32. 11:11 better a straight up narco than a twisted crooked politician or his sicarios

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  33. I prefer the guy in surviving escobar best narco show ever 👍👍👍👍

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