A Colombian man known by the alias ‘Chiquito Malo’ has emerged as the leader of one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations following the arrest of his predecessor in October 2021. Jobanis de Jesús Ávila Villadiego took command of the Gulf Clan after authorities captured the group’s former chief, Dairo Antonio Úsuga.
Born in San Pedro de Urabá in Antioquia department, Ávila Villadiego’s involvement in organized crime dates back to his participation in paramilitary activities with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. He was affiliated with the Banana Bloc, which operated in the Urabá region until disbanding in November 2004.
Following the demobilization, Ávila Villadiego joined the Gulf Clan when it formed in 2006. The organization emerged as former paramilitary members regrouped to reclaim territories previously controlled by their disbanded groups. His familiarity with the Urabá region and operational experience facilitated his rapid advancement within the organization’s hierarchy.
By 2015, authorities had identified him as a senior figure within the criminal structure. The United States government issued an indictment against him that year, recognizing him as a principal leader in drug trafficking operations. Colombian security forces attempted to capture him in Antioquia’s Urabá region the same year, resulting in three deaths and four arrests among his security detail, though he managed to escape.
In February 2021, following the death of the organization’s second-in-command, Ávila Villadiego was promoted to that position. His tenure as deputy leader was brief, as he assumed full control of the organization eight months later when authorities arrested his predecessor.
Under his leadership, the Gulf Clan has maintained its position as a dominant force in Colombia’s criminal landscape. The organization engages in multiple illegal activities including drug trafficking, illegal mining, extortion, smuggling, and migrant trafficking. The group’s operations span more than half of Colombia’s departments, with particularly strong presence in Antioquia, Córdoba, and Sucre.
The organization maintains international connections with Mexican criminal groups and European crime networks for drug trafficking operations. Within Colombia, the group faces opposition from rival organizations, particularly in strategic areas for drug trafficking and illegal mining in departments such as Chocó, Valle del Cauca, and Magdalena.
Internal challenges have also emerged during Ávila Villadiego’s leadership. A power struggle with another senior member who contested the leadership succession ended with that rival’s death in early 2023.
The Colombian government has attempted to engage with the Gulf Clan as part of peace initiatives. Formal talks began in August 2024, and authorities temporarily suspended arrest warrants in December 2025 to facilitate negotiations. However, these warrants were reactivated in March 2026.
In May 2026, Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office declined to suspend arrest warrants for 29 Gulf Clan members, including Ávila Villadiego, despite government requests related to ongoing dialogue efforts. The United States has also expanded charges against him to include narco-terrorism and conspiracy to support terrorist organizations.
The Gulf Clan’s trajectory under Ávila Villadiego’s leadership has defied expectations that the organization would weaken following the previous leader’s capture. Instead, the group has consolidated its position and expanded its influence in territories strategic to various criminal economies throughout Colombia.
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