Colombia’s largest drug-trafficking cartel has reached its “peak” and is entering a decline that could see it lay down its arms, a government negotiator involved in peace talks with the group told AFP.

The Clan del Golfo, which has origins in right-wing paramilitary organizations and calls itself the Gaitanista Army of Colombia, concluded a first round of peace talks in Qatar last week with the leftist government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

The talks are aimed at the group’s demobilization in exchange for judicial benefits and security guarantees.

Alvaro Jimenez, the president’s chief negotiator, said Wednesday that the Clan’s “main activity” was illegal gold mining, and the government is offering them the chance to lay down their arms in exchange for “seeing their children gr

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