A high-ranking commander of FARC surrendered to government authorities on Sunday, striking a blow to the guerrilla drug trafficking organization.

From the LA Times:

Analysts said the surrender of Nelly Avila Moreno, alias Karina, is a blow to the morale of the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, in whose ranks she fought for 24 years, earning a reputation as a fierce, resourceful and ruthless leader.

Moreno’s surrender Sunday in southern Antioquia state brings to six the number of commanders who have surrendered, been killed or been captured in the last year. Her partner, Abelardo Montes, alias Michin, and a daughter also surrendered to undercover Colombian police.

Moreno, 40, was one of the bloodiest and most feared FARC commanders, and officials suspect her of having orchestrated mass murders and summary executions. The half a dozen criminal charges pending against her include murder, terrorism, drug trafficking and human rights abuses.

There was no indication Monday whether the Colombian government offered to drop some or all of the charges in exchange for her surrender. Government sources did say that Moreno negotiated her surrender over the course of two weeks.

At a news conference in Medellin, Moreno said she surrendered because of increasing Colombian army pressure, the deterioration of rebel forces and her fear she might be killed by her own troops for the $900,000 bounty on her head.