The Northwestern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the Iván Ríos Bloc[1] has historically been a strong influence in the Medellín and Antioquia regions, and still is today. It has been among the blocs most seriously targeted by former president Álvaro Uribe's defense plan and the Colombian Army's offensive. Due to this, the bloc has been forced to retreat to more remote areas of the countryside and has lost the dominance it once had in the area. The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Because of the current conflict existing in the country, much of the information recovered is conflicting. Some of the believed divisions or "fronts", as they are commonly called, are shown below. Many of these fronts sometimes work together towards a certain mission, while others are further divided into "columns" and "companies" with a smaller number of members. For more general information see FARC-EP Chain of Command.
Also known as the Antonio Nariño Front, this front is composed by up to 350 combatants and operates mostly in the Urabá region of the Antioquia Department.
Alias
Name
Note
Jacobo Arango
Front commander.[6] Killed on January 31, 2012.[7]
Also known as the Atanasio Girardot Front, this front is composed 45 to 50[10] combatants and operates mostly in the Antioquia Department. The Colombian military claims that this front has now been dismantled[11] but NGO Nuevo Arco Iris said in 2012 the front is still active[12]
After being wounded, he handed himself to the army on February 8, 2011.[29][30]
Samper
Alberto Montoya Montoya
Captured by Interpol in April 2011.
Shampoo
Financial leader and explosive expert. Killed in August 2011 along with two others guerilleros.[31]
47th Front
Also known as the Leonardo Posada Pedraza Front, this front is composed by 15 to 90 combatants and operates mostly in the Caldas and Antioquia Departments. The front is, as of 2011, mainly active in the border between southern Antioquia and Caldas, with limited, if any, activity in other departments.[32]
On May 19, 2008, Karina surrendered herself to the Colombian authorities, two weeks after president Uribe guaranteed her safety on her surrender. According to the governor of Antioquia, Luis Alfredo Ramos, she was also urged by her family to surrender.[35]
57th Front
This front is composed by up to 250 combatants, and operates mostly in the Chocó Department.
Commander 57th Front, escaped bombing in 'operation darién'[37]
Silver
Killed on October 3, 2010, in Operation Darien
58th Front
Also known as the Mártires de las Canas Front, this front is composed by up to 150 combatants and operates mostly in the Antioquia and Córdoba Departments.
Alias
Name
Note
Manteco
Jóberman Sánchez Arroyabe
Jacobo Arenas Urban Front
This urban front is considered FARC's greatest influence in the Medellín region.
Alias
Name
Note
Ramiro, Político
Killed in 2006.
Octavio
Rolando Acevedo Muñoz
Killed in 2005.
Raúl Eduardo Mahecha Front
Operates in Antioquia. In September 2011 this front is believed to have rescued three oil workers who were kidnapped by criminals in August 2011. The guerrillas freed the workers and handed them over the Colombian police.[38]
Columns and Companies
The following columns and companies also form part of the Northwestern Bloc:
Company Aurelio Rodríguez: Composed by up to 110 combatants, this company operates in the Risaralda and Caldas Departments and is led by Martín Cruz Vega, alias "Rubin Morro". One of its highest ranking militants, Jesús González Cardona, alias "Osama", was captured in 2007.
^El Tiempo. "Sucesor de 'Martín Caballero' en las Farc murió en combate" February 11, 2008. Available onlineArchived 2008-03-23 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed February 12, 2008.
