One of Colombia’s most dangerous criminals, retired Army Major Juan Carlos Rodriguez, also known as “Zeus,” escaped from prison in a mass jailbreak along with 21 other inmates. The escape, which occurred on April 21, involved a daring plan in which an inmate faked an illness to lure guards into his cell and then ambush them. The inmates used a tropical storm as cover for their escape, with Rodriguez seen covering his face with a towel as he hurried out of the cell. The escape was facilitated by the presence of at least 10 officers who were present when the cell was opened for inspection.
Following the escape, the General Director of the Police issued an apology for the mistakes that led to the jailbreak, acknowledging that there were errors that needed to be investigated. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned Rodriguez as a criminal who must be apprehended quickly. A reward of 50 million Colombian pesos has been offered for the capture of Rodriguez, and a wide-scale operation has been launched, including the closure of all exit routes from the city of Cucuta in an effort to recapture the fugitives. Reports have suggested that as many as 50 inmates could now be at large.
Some of the prisoners who escaped have already returned due to injuries sustained during the jailbreak. There are allegations that Rodriguez was the mastermind behind the escape, offering a significant sum of money to officers in exchange for their cooperation. Three police officers have been arrested in connection with the escape, though details about their involvement remain unclear. Rodriguez, who was convicted for arms trafficking and serving in the paramilitary for the Norte del Valle cartel, was arrested along with four other individuals.
Police suspect Rodriguez of carrying out extrajudicial killings on behalf of his criminal associates, including the alleged murder of a journalist. Despite having numerous convictions, Rodriguez was released on parole in 2021 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities and provide information on the connections between the military, paramilitary groups, and drug traffickers in Colombia. He had previously served time in prison and his first arrest dates back to 2005. Rodriguez provided information about how the National Army had supported a rival cartel gang member to incite a civil war in Norte del Valle.
