Thread by @InSightCrime

Venezuelan gang boss El Koki has long ruled in Caracas’ sprawling urban district of Cota 905, throwing massive concerts while being one of the country’s most wanted criminals. In this #CriminalThread, we look at how he suddenly finds himself on the run. 🧶👇

Three years ago, a short cell phone video showed Carlos Luis Revette, better known as El Koki, relaxed, partying in Cota 905. Though accused of a number of crimes, including homicide and drug trafficking, he had evaded an arrest warrant first issued in 2013.

Life was good for the gang leader in his stronghold where even police feared entering. This year, though, he made the mistake of invading the nearby La Vega neighborhood.

The Venezuelan government apparently couldn’t stand for the attack, and sent special forces to La Vega to dislodge the gang. Firefights broke out between police and gang members. Civilians were killed.

After one of El Koki’s key allies, El Loco Leo, was injured in a shootout with police, he had gang member shoot up Caracas’ central police and intelligence service headquarters known as El Helicoide on July 7.

It was a fatal mistake. Venezuela’s government responded in full force to the gunfire days later. Some 800 troops raided Cota 905, conducting house-to-house searches amid shootouts with gang members.

Since then, police have killed Loco Leo and reportedly sent other gang leaders like “El Vampi” into hiding in the Colombian border city of Cúcuta, though the reports of their presence their presence are unconfirmed.

Are El Koki and his gang no longer safe in Caracas? The answer is not likely to come until after Venezuela’s elections.
insightcrime.org/news/are-el-ko…