- NEW: Venezuelan authorities and the CIA assisted, Colombia's president says
- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced the capture
- Daniel "El Loco" Barrera is accused of alliances with paramilitaries, drug trafficking
- He was captured in Venezuela, the Colombian president says
(CNN) -- Authorities have captured alleged drug lord Daniel "El Loco" Barrera, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Tuesday night.
Barrera was captured in San Cristobal, Venezuela, Santos said. He is accused of alliances with paramilitaries and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrilla group in addition to drug trafficking crimes over a period of more than 20 years.
"He is the last of the great (crime) bosses. This is very forceful blow," Santos said in televised remarks.
The operation, directed from Washington, came about with collaboration between Colombian, Venezuelan, British and U.S. officials, Santos said.
"I want to thank the Venezuelan government, President (Hugo) Chavez and his team, for this great collaboration that has produced this capture," Santos said.
The MI6 British intelligence agency and the CIA also assisted, he said.
