International Law

Colombia Extradites 14 Warlords to Face US Drug Charges

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Updated: In an unexpected move this morning, Colombia extradited what a Florida newspaper describes as 14 notorious paramilitary warlords to face cocaine-trafficking charges in the United States.

The 14 were put on planes to New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami, reports the Miami Herald. They include: Hernán Giraldo (aka “Pablo Sevillano”), Salvatore Mancuso, Diego Fernando Murillo (“Don Berna”), Rodrigo Tovar Pupo (”Jorge 40”) and Ramiro ”Cuco” Vanoy.

They were extradited, according to the country’s interior minister, Carlos Holguín, because they continued to conduct criminal activities while they were jailed in Colombia and didn’t make reparations to victims. This allegedly violated a 2003 surrender agreement, which he described as lenient.

Additional coverage:

New York Times: “Colombia Extradites 14 Paramilitary Leaders”

Updated at 2:40 p.m. to add New York Times coverage.

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