Colombian police say they may have killed Pedro Guerrero Castillo one of the country's most-hunted drugs traffickers and a former paramilitary warlord.
Guerrero -- better known as Cuchillo (The Knife) -- allegedly died on December 25 after being seriously injured in a gun battle with police in the eastern province of Meta.
One of Cuchillo's bodyguards was also killed in the shoot-out, which took place in a jungle near the town of Mapiripan, police officials said.
At least seven other members of his group were also arrested in the police operation. Among those detained was his number two, known as Madman Harold, state-funded BBC said.
Officials said medical tests were being carried out to confirm whether the body recovered from the scene of the fighting belongs to the drug lord.
Cuchillo was the leader of a 1,200-strong paramilitary that largely controlled the drugs trade in eastern Colombia.
He was one of the most wanted criminals in the Latin American country, where authorities had declared a $1.25 million reward for information leading to his capture.
According to a recently-released report by the United Nations, Colombia is the world's leading cocaine producer. The country is also considered as a safe haven for drug gangs and kingpins.
FF/HRF