US announces extradition of Colombian paramilitary leader on narcotics trafficking charges

US announces extradition of Colombian paramilitary leader on narcotics trafficking charges

2010-11-20 20:49:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Prosecutors announced the extradition of a Colombian paramilitary leader on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and to engage in maritime narcotics smuggling.

Eder Pedraza-Pena, 45, aka "Don Ramon," is a former commander in a right-wing Colombian paramilitary drug organization known as "Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia" (AUC). Pedraza arrived to the U.S. on Thursday.

From 1999 to March 2009, Pedraza served as commander of the terrorist AUC group which is currently named "Bandas Criminales Emergentes" (BACRIMS). For years AUC's main objective was to defeat the left-wing Colombian terrorist FARC organization.

AUC financed its terrorist activities through the proceeds of cocaine trafficking in its controlled regions. Pedraza collected taxes from narcotics traffickers who transported cocaine through the sector he controlled.

Pedraza also trafficked cocaine destined to Central America, Mexico, and the United States. In January 2009, he arranged a shipment of over 2,000 kilograms of cocaine that was later intercepted and seized by the U.S. Coast Guard in international waters off Jamaica’s coast.

The former terrorist leader was arrested by Colombian authorities on October 11, 2009. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S. and one count of conspiracy to possess cocaine to intent to distribute while on board of a vessel subject to the U.S. jurisdiction.

Pedraza faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison. He was described by U.S. and international agencies as the leader of one of the most vicious and deadly narco-terrorist groups in South America.

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