Colombia arrests US-wanted FARC rebel

The Colombian intelligence service, DAS, has captured a suspected member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who is on Washington's 'terrorist list'.

Maribel Gallego Rubio, nicknamed "Maritza," was arrested in Bogota in a joint operation by DAS and the Interpol, EFE reported on Monday.

DAS said that its investigations show that Maritza had contact with “the FARC secretariat” and acted as the “logistics coordinator” for “acquisition of cutting-edge technical equipment, such as satellite telephones, scanners and computers.” It did not provide any details on the date of her arrest.

Maritza, who is allegedly affiliated with the FARC's top brass, used to play the role of a broker between US equipment suppliers and the Colombian rebels, DAS claims.

A Washington-based federal court has been seeking Maritza's extradition on charges of providing material support to a terrorist organization.

Established in 1964, the FARC is the largest leftist insurgent group in Colombia.

The rebel organization has an estimated 8,000 to 17,000 fighters operating across a large swath of the Andean nation.

The Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has placed the destruction of FARC at the top of his administration's agenda. It has obtained billions in US funds for counterinsurgency operations.