Joaquín Gómez

Milton de Jesús Toncel Redondo aka Joaquín Gómez, aka Usuriaga. (Born March 18, 1947 in Barrancas, La Guajira), is a Colombian guerrilla leader, member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) commanding presumably the Central Bloc of the FARC-EP or the Southern Bloc of the FARC-EP and since March 2008 an official member of the Secretariat as a replacement for Raúl Reyes. Joaquín Gómez is in charge of collecting revenues for the organization generated by illicit drugs and narcotrafficking. [ [http://www.terra.com/noticias/articulo/html/act1156011.htm es icon terra.com: Secretariado de las FARC se reduce a seis miembros] ]

Wanted by authorities

According to the US Department of State Toncel has 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 the world; 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. Toncel is also responsible for overseeing the Southern Bloc’s production of thousands of tons of cocaine. The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $2.5 million dollars for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction. [ [http://www.state.gov/p/inl/narc/rewards/63854.htm US Department of State: Milton De Jesus Toncel Redondo profile] ]

Member of the Secretariat

After the death of Raul Reyes on March 1, 2008 a website affiliated to the FARC called "Agencia Bolivariana de Prensa" announced on March 4, 2008 that "Joaquín Gómez" was to replace Reyes as member of the Secretariat or higher command of the FARC. [ [http://www.abpnoticias.com/boletin_temporal/contenido/articulos/colombia_asesinato_reyes23.html es icon abpnoticias.com: Communique/Joaquín Gómez replaces Raul Reyes] ] [ [http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/2008-03-04/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3985250.html es icon El tiempo: 'Joaquín Gómez' será el sucesor de 'Raúl Reyes en el secretariado de las Farc] ]

Reports of Hospitalization in Venezuela

On March 8, 2008 Globovision reported that Gómez, along with one other FARC member, had been hospitalized at a clinic in Rubio, Venezuela after being shot in the face near the Colombian border. [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=azsjP6yNwkXM&refer=latin_america] Bloomberg: Top Colombian Rebel Hopitalized in Venezuela, Globovision Says] However, these reports were denied by military sources. [El Tiempo. "Colombiano herido en Venezuela no es 'Joaquín Gómez', afirman voceros militares" [http://www.eltiempo.com/conflicto/noticias/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3998405.html Available online] . Accessed March 11, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/p/inl/narc/rewards/63854.htm US State Department profile: Milton de Jesus Toncel Redondo]