The dissolution of the NDVC gave rise to independent criminal organizations, most notably Los Rastrojos , which became a dominant force in the next generation of Colombian organized crime.
They paid right-wing paramilitary groups, such as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), to protect laboratories and smuggling routes. Internal War: Los Machos vs. Los Rastrojos
was captured in September 2007 and later extradited to the U.S..
Many early members were former police officers, allowing the cartel to maintain a sophisticated network of informants within security forces and government institutions.
Led by Wilber Varela ("Jabón").The resulting conflict was exceptionally brutal, leaving over 1,000 people dead within a single year (2003–2004). Dismantlement and Legacy
In 2003, the cartel fractured into two warring factions over disagreements regarding potential surrender deals with the U.S. DEA: Led by Diego Montoya ("Don Diego").
The NDVC was unique in its ability to manage the entire process from coca cultivation to international distribution. They utilized high-speed "go-fast" boats, fishing vessels, and even narco-submarines to transport tons of cocaine to Mexican allies like the Beltrán-Leyva Organization .
The rose to power in the 1990s following the fragmentation of Colombia's infamous Medellín and Cali cartels, eventually becoming the wealthiest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the country . At its peak, the cartel was estimated to be responsible for approximately 60% of the cocaine reaching the United States. Historical Origins
