Miguel Uribe, a 38-year-old Colombian senator and presidential hopeful, was shot in June and died in August after multiple surgeries. Argentine authorities arrested Brayan Ferney Cruz Castillo in Buenos Aires; prosecutors say he may have played a logistical role in the assassination and could face extradition. Colombian investigators allege the killing was carried out by an organised criminal network tied to the paramilitary Second Marquetalia, led by the alias Iván Márquez.
Argentina Arrests Suspect Tied to Assassination of Colombian Presidential Hopeful Miguel Uribe
People hold white balloons printed with the portrait of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay on June 15, 2025, after his shooting [Raul Arboleda/AFP]
Argentinian authorities have arrested a Colombian national they say is linked to the assassination of presidential hopeful and Senator Miguel Uribe. The Prosecutor General’s Office in Argentina announced Tuesday that Brayan Ferney Cruz Castillo was detained in Buenos Aires.
Officials said Cruz Castillo will remain in custody while Argentine authorities consider potential extradition requests from Colombia. The Prosecutor General’s Office described him as part of an organised criminal conspiracy allegedly responsible for Uribe’s killing and said evidence suggests he may have handled logistical aspects of the attack.
According to the statement, Cruz Castillo entered Argentina illegally and had previously been detained in connection with a robbery investigation. His arrest followed cooperation with Colombian judicial authorities, which had issued an international alert for his capture.
Background
Miguel Uribe, a 38-year-old conservative senator and presidential contender, was shot in the head at a campaign event in Bogotá in June. He underwent multiple surgeries but died two months later in August.
“According to the investigation conducted in Colombia, the attack was carried out by an organised criminal structure involving multiple actors,” the Argentine Prosecutor General’s Office said.
Colombian prosecutors have accused a local criminal network of organising the assassination and say that network acted on behalf of a paramilitary faction known as the Second Marquetalia, reportedly led by a former FARC commander who uses the alias Iván Márquez. Several members of the group have been arrested and sentenced; in March authorities ordered the capture of seven individuals linked to the faction in connection with the investigation.
One suspect, a 15-year-old alleged to be the shooter, was charged with attempted murder and illegal weapons possession and was sentenced in August to seven years in juvenile detention. Officials say the case underscores the cross-border reach of organised crime and the role international cooperation played in locating and detaining a suspect abroad.
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