BBC News Online: World: Americas

Colombia arrests 'drug lord'

Colombian armed forces have captured Brazil's alleged top drugs trafficker, after a manhunt in a jungle region close to the Brazilian border.

Luis Fernando da Costa is accused of supplying arms to left-wing rebels in Colombia in return for cocaine.

The drug trafficker allegedly once controlled much of the narcotics trade in Rio de Janeiro, but moved his operations to Colombia after he escaped from a Brazilian prison in 1996.

The Colombian security forces knew it was only a matter of time before they caught him.

Army operation

They had been searching for him since February when an army operation codenamed "black cat" uncovered a massive drugs complex in the Colombian jungle near the Brazilian border.

Here the military found, according to army chief, General Jorge Enrique Mora, proof that da Costa was supplying Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), with weapons in exchange for cocaine.

Several Brazilians were arrested at the site, but da Costa managed to get away and has been on the run ever since.

But the Colombian airforce on Thursday forced down a Cessna plane.

Da Costa, who was on board, was arrested after running off into the jungle.

His arrest is a major coup for the security forces, but piles more pressure on Colombian President Andres Pastrana and his peace process.

He has always said he will never deal with drugs traffickers and da Costa could prove that the FARC are directly involved in exporting drugs, undermining two years of so far fruitless peace talks with the rebels.