After an exhaustive investigation lasting more than a year and a half, authorities managed to uncover the unusual and disturbing ‘modus operandi’ of the infamous criminal group known as ‘Robledo,’ which operated in the city of Medellín, the capital of Colombia’s Antioquía department. The group, whose activities were detailed in a recent report by the magazine Semana, employed witchcraft and Santería techniques to carry out their crimes and evade justice.
This criminal organization, structured almost like a legal enterprise, had approximately 170 members and generated monthly profits of nearly $120,000. Their illegal activities included forced disappearances, homicides, drug trafficking, and extortion.
A Leader Hidden in the Shadows
The mastermind behind this gang, a 43-year-old man identified by the alias ‘The Witch,’ moved around in a wheelchair, which did not prevent him from firmly directing all the group’s operations. The investigation revealed that this leader regularly consulted tarot cards and performed Santería rituals to foresee possible risks and guide the organization’s decisions, thereby avoiding capture by the authorities.
Witchcraft and Santería in Service of Crime
During a raid conducted by the Metropolitan Police of Valle de Aburrá, various objects and substances used in witchcraft and Santería rituals were found in The Witch’s residence. “He makes decisions based on these rituals and advises the group according to what they reveal,” a source close to the organization explained to Semana.
The Witch’s hideout was finally exposed after a series of internal conflicts within the group related to drug trafficking control. According to testimonies, The Witch had ordered the murder of one of his own men in a ritual linked to Santería. “That night, he dressed in a black robe, drank excessively, and committed the crime,” the source recounted.
The Witch’s Downfall
It was also discovered that members of the Robledo organization used Santería not only to avoid confrontations with other gangs but also to safely navigate the most dangerous areas of Medellín. They would even make “blood pacts” with other criminals to ensure that their territories remained uninvaded.
The end came when the police arrested The Witch along with 24 of his accomplices. In a desperate attempt to prevent authorities from accessing incriminating information, the criminal leader threw his mobile phone from the balcony of his 25th-floor apartment. However, this was not enough to stop the collapse of his criminal empire.
