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{{Short description|Colombian crime gang}}{{other uses|Black Eagle (disambiguation)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=August 2012}}
{{update|date=March 2016}}
{{Expand Spanish|Águilas Negras|date=February 2017}}
}}
{{infobox war faction
| name             = Black Eagles
| war              = [[Colombian Armed Conflict]]
| image            = Aguilas negras capital.png
| caption          = Águilas Negras
| active           = 2006–2011
| ideology         = [[Anti-communism]]<br/>[[Counter-insurgency]]
| position         = [[Right-wing]] to [[far-right]]
| leaders          = [[Vicente Castaño]] (disappeared)
| groups           = 
| headquarters     = 
| predecessor      = AUC
}}

'''Black Eagles''' ({{langx|es|Águilas Negras}}) was a term describing a series of [[Colombia]]n [[drug trafficking]], [[right-wing]], [[counter-revolutionary]], [[paramilitary]] organizations made up of new and preexisting paramilitary forces, that emerged from the failures of the [[Demobilization (Colombia)|demobilization]] process between 2004 and 2006, which aimed to disarm the United [[Self-Defense Units of Colombia]] (AUC).

The Black Eagles were first considered to be a third generation of [[paramilitarism in Colombia|paramilitary groups]], but [[Colombian military]] reports suggest they were intermediaries in the drug business between the [[guerrilla]] and drug cartels outside Colombia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambio.com.co/paiscambio/763/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR_CAMBIO-3957334.html|language=es|title=Revista Cambio: Farc y las Águilas Negras se alían en negocios de narcotráfico en el sur de Bolívar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006065403/http://www.cambio.com.co/paiscambio/763/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR_CAMBIO-3957334.html|archive-date=6 October 2008}}</ref> As of 2007, they were reported to be active in the city of [[Barrancabermeja]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-03-12-colombia_N.htm|title=Paramilitaries re-emerge in pockets of Colombia|last=Caleb Harris|agency=Associated Press|publisher=USA Today|date=12 March 2007|access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref> According to Fundación Paz y Reconciliación, Black Eagles ceased to exist around 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Las Águilas Negras' no existen: Fundación Paz y Reconciliación |url=https://www.radionacional.co/cultura/aguilas-negras-no-existen-como-grupo-paramilitar-fundacion-paz-y-reconciliacion |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.radionacional.co}}</ref> Since then, there is no evidence of an armed structure, camps or a military hierarchy; instead, the term ''Águilas Negras'' is used as a "franchise" by different, unrelated criminal gangs.

==Origins==
The Black Eagles first appeared in the [[Norte de Santander Department|Norte de Santander]] area in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://semana.com/nacion/aguilas-negras/105663-3.aspx|title=¿Qué son las Águilas Negras?|publisher=Semana.com|language=es|access-date=30 October 2012|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103074924/http://www.semana.com/nacion/aguilas-negras/105663-3.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 18 October 2006, [[President of Colombia|President]] [[Álvaro Uribe]] openly ordered their detention.<ref name=ElTIEMPO>{{cite web|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/conflicto/noticias/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3306783.html|language=es|title=Las 'Águilas negras', grupo conformado por desmovilizados de las autodefensas, ya azotan 5 regiones|website=ElTiempo.com|access-date=20 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312173530/http://www.eltiempo.com/conflicto/noticias/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3306783.html|archive-date=12 March 2007}}</ref> The government ordered the creation of a new [[Search Bloc]] against the Black Eagles and classified them as a gang of former [[paramilitaries]].<ref name=COLARMY>[http://www.ejercito.mil.co/index.php?idcategoria=192687 Nine presumed members of the Águilas Negras captured], ejercito.mil.co; accessed 20 August 2007.{{in lang|es}}</ref>

The Black Eagles were one of a number of groups formed following the demilitarisation of the [[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia|AUC]], and were said to be closely linked with the [[Clan del Golfo|Usuga Clan]] drug cartel and right-wing neo-paramilitary group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsnews.net/2010/06/amid-elections-armed-groups-hold-colombian-town-under-the-gun/|title=Amid Elections, Armed Groups Hold Colombian Town under the Gun|last=Michael Deibert|date=June 2010 |publisher=Inter Press Service|access-date=18 February 2013}}</ref>

==Drugs==
The Black Eagles were closely associated with drug cartels and were involved in drug trafficking activities, [[extortion]], [[Racket (crime)|racketeering]] and [[kidnapping]]. They also attacked guerrilla members and suspected sympathizers. One individual accused of leading the Black Eagles was former AUC leader [[Vicente Castaño]].<ref name=ELPAIS>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpais.com.co/paisonline/notas/Agosto152007/castaguilas.html|publisher=[[El Pais (Cali)|El Pais]]|access-date=20 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015451/http://www.elpais.com.co/paisonline/notas/Agosto152007/castaguilas.html|archive-date=27 September 2007|title=Vicente Castaño estaría detrás de las 'Águilas Negras'|language=es}}</ref> Castaño later disappeared, and is believed to have been assassinated on the orders of [[Diego Murillo Bejarano]] in retaliation for taking control of his territory and criminal rackets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vicente Castaño |url=https://profiles.colombiareports.com/vicente-castano/ |website=Colombia Reports Profiles |access-date=6 June 2020 |date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=26 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426155858/https://profiles.colombiareports.com/vicente-castano/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vicente Castaño: dead |url=http://www.cambio.com.co/portadacambio/740/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR_CAMBIO-3710032.html |website=Cambio |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227104641/http://www.cambio.com.co/portadacambio/740/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR_CAMBIO-3710032.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 27, 2012 |language=es |date=November 2, 2008}}</ref>

==Groups==
* ''[[Los Rastrojos]]'': operating in [[Cauca Department|Cauca]] and [[Valle del Cauca]]<ref>[http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/13083-27-alleged-members-los-rastrojos-arrested.html 27 alleged members of 'Los Rastrojos' gang arrested] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325103525/http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/13083-27-alleged-members-los-rastrojos-arrested.html |date=2012-03-25 }} Colombia Reports, 24 November 2010</ref> (approximately 1,200 members).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/world/americas/04colombia.html|work=The New York Times|first=Simon|last=Romero|title=In Colombia, New Gold Rush Fuels Old Conflict|date=3 March 2011}}</ref>
* ''Mano Negra'': operating in [[Putumayo Department|Putumayo]] (unknown number of members).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cipcol.org/?p=444|title="New" paramilitaries, all over the map|work=Plan Colombia and Beyond|date=18 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527213952/http://www.cipcol.org/?p=444|archive-date=27 May 2007}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/profiles/26263-aguilas-negras.html Colombia Reports: Aguilas Negras profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002232056/http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/profiles/26263-aguilas-negras.html |date=2012-10-02 }}

{{Colombia_conflict}}
{{Organized crime groups in America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Eagles}}
[[Category:Organizations established in 2006]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in Colombia]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:2011 disestablishments in Colombia]]
[[Category:Disbanded Colombian drug cartels]]
[[Category:Paramilitary organisations based in Colombia]]
[[Category:Far-right politics]]
[[Category:Anti-communist terrorism]]
[[Category:Bacrims]]
[[Category:Anti-communist organizations]]