Search Bloc
Encyclopedia
The Search Bloc was a Special Operations unit of the National Police of Colombia (Policía Nacional de Colombia).
Cesar Gaviria
. Search Bloc officers were assembled with the sole objective of the apprehension
of drug lord Pablo Escobar
and his associates. Its original commander was Colonel Hugo Martinez.
The members of Search Bloc received training
from the U.S. Army's Special Forces and were specially selected for being impervious to police corruption
from the drug cartels. Throughout its mission, Search Bloc faced many obstacles such as a spy
within the group, allegations of collaboration with the anti-Escobar vigilante
groups such as Los Pepes
, which would have included vigilantism within Search Bloc pertaining to suspicious deaths of Escobar's subordinates.
Escobar was killed on December 2 1993 in a shootout with members of Search Bloc.
After dismantling the Medellin Cartel
, Search Bloc was transferred to Cali
to find and shut down the structure of the Cali Cartel
.
Search Bloc was revived in 2004 to root out cocaine and heroin traffickers in the southwest of Colombia. The mission of the new Search Bloc was to take apart the Norte del Valle cartel
and arrest its leader, Diego León Montoya Sánchez
.
History
The Search Bloc was created in 1992 by then President of ColombiaPresident of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
Cesar Gaviria
César Gaviria
César Gaviria Trujillo is a Colombian politician and a Latin American statesman. He served as President of Colombia from 1990 to 1994, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1994 until 2004.-Early life:...
. Search Bloc officers were assembled with the sole objective of the apprehension
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
of drug lord Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
and his associates. Its original commander was Colonel Hugo Martinez.
The members of Search Bloc received training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
from the U.S. Army's Special Forces and were specially selected for being impervious to police corruption
Police corruption
Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits, other personal gain, or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest....
from the drug cartels. Throughout its mission, Search Bloc faced many obstacles such as a spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
within the group, allegations of collaboration with the anti-Escobar vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
groups such as Los Pepes
Los Pepes
Los Pepes , was a short-lived vigilante group composed of enemies of narcotics kingpin Pablo Escobar who waged a bloody war against Escobar and his associates in the early 1990s.-Name:While the name suggested that all, or most, members of Los Pepes were previously persecuted by...
, which would have included vigilantism within Search Bloc pertaining to suspicious deaths of Escobar's subordinates.
Escobar was killed on December 2 1993 in a shootout with members of Search Bloc.
After dismantling the Medellin Cartel
Medellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
, Search Bloc was transferred to Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
to find and shut down the structure of the Cali Cartel
Cali Cartel
The Cali Cartel was a drug cartel based in southern Colombia, around the city of Cali and the Valle del Cauca Department. The Cali Cartel was founded by the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers, Gilberto and Miguel, as well as associate José Santacruz Londoño...
.
Search Bloc was revived in 2004 to root out cocaine and heroin traffickers in the southwest of Colombia. The mission of the new Search Bloc was to take apart the Norte del Valle cartel
Norte del Valle Cartel
The Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, is a drug cartel that operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia...
and arrest its leader, Diego León Montoya Sánchez
Diego Leon Montoya Sanchez
Diego León Montoya Sánchez , also known as Don Diego, is a former Colombian crime boss leader of the Norte del Valle drug cartel...
.