SUMMARY
EGC (Ejército Gaitanista de Colombia; the Gaitanista Army of Colombia) formerly AGC (Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia; Gaitanist Self Defense-Forces of Colombia) or ’the Gaitanistas’ emerged from the paramilitary movement AUC, which demobilized in 2006. The warlord Vicente Castaño broke away from the demobilization process and continued the fighting with the group which at that time was called the Urabeños, as they emerged in the northwestern region Urubá, near the Panamanian border. The region was highly prized by drug traffickers as it offers access to the Caribbean and Pacific coasts from the departments of Antioquia and Chocó.
EGC has also sometimes been referred to as 'Clan Usuga' (Usuga Clan) as it was led by two brothers, who begun their underworld careers with the now demobilized guerilla group EPL, Juan de Dios Usuga, alias 'Giovanni', and Dario Antonio Usuga, alias 'Otonel'. Another name used for the group was Clan del Golfo (the Gulf Clan). In 2024 the group changed its name from AGC to EGC to detach itself from its origin and indicate its contribution to the ’Total Peace’ plan initiated by the President Gustavo Pedro in 2023.
EGC was primarily involved in transnational drug trafficking, mainly controlling and regulating the coca paste production market along trafficking routes. The group’s power base was centered around the Gulf of Urabá in the provinces of Antioquia and Chocó stretching into Córdoba, but as of 2023 it had presence in at least 20 of the provinces in Colombia including major cities such as Medellín and Bogotá.
The central leadership of EGC as of 2023 consisted of the main leader Jesús Ávila Villadiego, alias ’Chiquito Malo’, former AUC fighter, born in Urabá. Second in command was José Gonzalo Sánches, alias ’Gonzalito’ followed by Orosman Ostén Blanco, alias ’Rodrigo Flechas’, alias ’Julián, and alias ’Joaquín’. The group had a network organizational structure with about one third of the local cells under the command of the leadership in Urubá. Other local organizations used the name of AGC and were expected to provide services when called upon. The various cells were self-sufficient and involved in, apart from drug-trafficking, also in illegal mining, extortion, migrant smuggling and micro trafficking.
EGC has fought ELN over territorial control in the provinces of Chocó, Antioquia, Bolívar and Norte de Santander. In 2020 and 2021 the group had an alliance with the Rastrojos, anohter paramilitary groups involved in drug-trafficking, to fight ELN and FARC-EMC. The group has also collaborated with independent drug traffickers in Colombia and Mexican drug trafficking groups like the Sinaloa Cartel.
EGC has been involved both in the one-sided violence EGC - civilians and the non-state categories EGC – ELN, FARC-EMC of UCDP organized violence.
