The No. 2 leader of criminal group "Los Rastrojos" was captured in the municipality of Tulua in southwest Colombia, the police said in a statement.

　　"One of the crimes committed by the band is murdering important social leaders and dismembering their enemies, to cause terror among the population," said the statement.

　　Avila's arrest was part of the operations aimed at weakening and dismantling Colombia's most dangerous criminal groups, the statement said.

　　Avila, who runs his group's financial affairs, has been wanted by the police for homicide, criminal association, drug trafficking and other crimes.

　　He is suspected of killing several prominent figures, including Ernesto Victoria, executive president of Tulua's Chamber of Commerce, at a party of the victim's family on March 10. A nephew of Victoria's was also killed and five other people were injured on the same occasion.