Colombia police seized almost 10,000 pounds of marijuana over the span of three days in Medellin and Pereira, authorities reported today.
According to Colombia Reports, Medellin police arrested four men who attempted to smuggle 5,000 pounds of the substance in a truck carting oranges.
The payload of more than 101 bales of marijuana weighed approximately 5,597 pounds. Authorities, who said the drugs were meant for the Colombia domestic market, assessed the total value of the bales at $1.69 million U.S. dollars.
Medellin police assumed the load belonged to the crime lord known only as "Sebastian," head of the "Oficina de Envigado." The crime syndicate, which was originally founded by Pablo Escobar, allegedly holds majority control of Medellin's underworld.
On Saturday, authorities arrested a man they believe to be Sebastian's brother and second-in-command, identified only as Frank.
The seizure of large shipments of marijuana, along with the alleged arrest of Sebastian’s second-in-command, represent huge wins for the Medellin police in Colombia's war on drugs.
In Pereira, Colombia, about 100 miles south of Medellin, authorities also found recent success with the seizure of four tons of marijuana, with an estimated street value $5.5 million U.S. dollars.