Paraguayan prosecutor’s murder in Colombia likely transnational hit: police

BOGOTA – The homicide of a Paraguayan prosecutor identified for combating organized crime was possible the sufferer of “transnational” criminals working throughout borders, the pinnacle of Colombia’s police mentioned Wednesday, as each nations pledged to probe the high-profile hit.

Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, 45, was shot lifeless on the island of Baru close to the Caribbean metropolis of Cartagena on Tuesday whereas on his honeymoon together with his spouse.

Gen. Jorge Luis Vargas, head of Colombia’s nationwide police, informed reporters the “massive speculation” is that Pecci’s killing was possible associated to his prosecutions in Paraguay, which regularly centered on high-stakes anti-money laundering and anti-drug instances.

“We’re speaking a couple of transnational crime system, extremely deliberate, through which it’s possible that a big amount of cash was spent to hold out the homicide,” mentioned Vargas, noting {that a} reward equal to just about $500,000 for info resulting in an arrest within the case has been provided.

Vargas added that police have photographs of the principle suspect, however he wouldn’t verify rumors that non-Colombians might have additionally been concerned.

Pecci and his spouse, Paraguayan journalist Claudia Aguilera, introduced her being pregnant on Instagram shortly earlier than the couple was approached by two males on a personal seaside close to their resort. She informed authorities one of many males later shot Pecci.

A senior official with Paraguay’s nationwide police, Nimio Cardozo, arrived in Colombia’s capital to help the investigation, together with U.S. drug and different federal brokers.

Showing on the identical information convention, Cardozo burdened that only some folks knew of Pecci’s deliberate trip.

“We won’t cease till we now have caught these accountable, materially and intellectually, for this despicable act,” he mentioned.