Romaña (guerrilla leader)

Henry Castellanos Garzón aka "Romaña" is a Colombian guerrilla leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Castellanos Garzón is a member of the Estado Mayor and the Commander of several Eastern Bloc of the FARC-EP fronts.

According to the United States government, Castellanos Garzón has been involved in drug trafficking for the FARC since the mid-1980s. The US alleges he participated in setting and implementing the FARC’s cocaine policies directing and controlling the production, manufacture, and distribution of hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States and Europe; the "taxation" of the drug trade in Colombia to raise funds for the FARC; and the murder of hundreds of people who violated or interfered with the FARC’s cocaine policies. They also allege he once maintained a stockpile of five tons of cocaine that was picked up by "Negro Acacio" of the 16th Front. The U.S. Department of State offered a reward of up to US$2.5 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.^[1]

Castellanos Garzón is also wanted by Colombian authorities for the kidnapping of the former mayor of Soacha, Cundinamarca and his brother in 1997. Both brothers were later freed.^[2]

Reported death in September 2010

On September 23, 2010, the Colombian press reported that Romaña was killed on September 22 during "Operation Sodom"- the same military operation that was credited with killing FARC commander Mono Jojoy. Colombian authorities could not confirm his death nor find his body.^[3]

In May 2011, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos confirmed on his presidential website that Romana survived the attack.^[4]

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