AUC n : a terrorist organization in Colombia formed in 1997 as an umbrella for local and regional paramilitary groups; is financed by earnings from narcotics and serves to protect the economic interests of its members; "the AUC conducted over 800 assassinations in one year" [syn: {United Self-Defense Force of Colombia}, {United Self-Defense Group of Colombia}, {Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia}]