BOGOTA, Nov 2:Colombia has extradited nine citizens accused of drug trafficking and participation in a criminal organization to the United States, Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez announced.
“Our Policia Colombia, in coordination with INTERPOL_HQ and U.S. authorities, handed over today nine Colombian citizens wanted for drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit crime,” the minister said on X.
Among those extradited is “Negro Frank,” the second-in-command of the local criminal organization led by “El Loco” Barrera, who reportedly conducted operations with the Mexican Los Zetas cartel, Sanchez added.
“Zero tolerance for transnational crime. This achievement strengthens the strategic alliance with the U.S., bolsters international cooperation in matters of justice and security, and sends a clear message to those who traffic in death: they will have no refuge or impunity in Colombia,” Sanchez emphasized.
The extraditions come amid a diplomatic row between Washington and Bogot?, which led to Colombian President Gustavo Petro recalling Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Pena to Washington on October 20.
Following talks between Foreign Minister Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy and US Charge d’Affaires John McNamara on Thursday, Bogot? announced it would return its ambassador to the United States. Despite the conciliatory tone, tensions remain high.
On Friday, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on President Petro, his son Nicolas Petro, First Lady Veronica Alcocer, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused the president of allowing drug cartels to flourish in Colombia and claimed cocaine production levels “exploded” under his administration. Petro strongly rejected the accusations. (UNI)
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