Post by Bozur on Mar 2, 2005 17:08:30 GMT -5
World - Reuters
Colombia to Extradite Ex-Cali Cartel Boss to U.S.
Tue Mar 1, 7:47 PM ET World - Reuters
BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombia's president on Tuesday ordered a former top Cali cocaine boss extradited to the United States where his brother is behind bars awaiting trial.
Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, who along with his brother, Gilberto, once controlled most of the world's cocaine trade, will be handed over to a Southern District of Florida court to face charges of running smuggling and money laundering businesses from his Colombian jail cell, the order by President Alvaro Uribe said.
It gave no date for Miguel to be handed over to U.S. authorities but extraditions usually take place soon after the orders are signed.
Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela was sent to Florida in December, becoming the most powerful drug lord ever extradited to the United States by Colombia.
The brothers came close to controlling Colombia's cocaine industry after police gunned down rival drug lord Pablo Escobar in 1993.
Their arrest in 1995 was touted as a big victory in the war on drugs but had little effect on the market. U.S. authorities say the brothers continued to run their empires from prison, organizing cocaine shipments and laundering the proceeds using a network of companies.
Despite billions of dollars in mostly military aid from the United States aimed at destroying coca crops and seizing cocaine shipments, Colombia's illegal drug trade remains huge.
Uribe, a staunch Washington ally, has increased extraditions during his 2-1/2 years in power. His tough security policies have reduced violence from the country's four-decade-old guerrilla war involving leftist rebels and far-right paramilitaries, both of which are linked to the cocaine business.
Colombia to Extradite Ex-Cali Cartel Boss to U.S.
Tue Mar 1, 7:47 PM ET World - Reuters
BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombia's president on Tuesday ordered a former top Cali cocaine boss extradited to the United States where his brother is behind bars awaiting trial.
Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, who along with his brother, Gilberto, once controlled most of the world's cocaine trade, will be handed over to a Southern District of Florida court to face charges of running smuggling and money laundering businesses from his Colombian jail cell, the order by President Alvaro Uribe said.
It gave no date for Miguel to be handed over to U.S. authorities but extraditions usually take place soon after the orders are signed.
Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela was sent to Florida in December, becoming the most powerful drug lord ever extradited to the United States by Colombia.
The brothers came close to controlling Colombia's cocaine industry after police gunned down rival drug lord Pablo Escobar in 1993.
Their arrest in 1995 was touted as a big victory in the war on drugs but had little effect on the market. U.S. authorities say the brothers continued to run their empires from prison, organizing cocaine shipments and laundering the proceeds using a network of companies.
Despite billions of dollars in mostly military aid from the United States aimed at destroying coca crops and seizing cocaine shipments, Colombia's illegal drug trade remains huge.
Uribe, a staunch Washington ally, has increased extraditions during his 2-1/2 years in power. His tough security policies have reduced violence from the country's four-decade-old guerrilla war involving leftist rebels and far-right paramilitaries, both of which are linked to the cocaine business.