Colombian drug lord sentenced to 30 years in U.S. prison for importing cocaine, heroin

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Colombian drug lord sentenced to 30 years in U.S. prison for importing cocaine, heroin

2010-12-01 04:14:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Colombian drug lord Francisco Gonzalez Uribe on Tuesday was sentenced to 30 years in prison for importing and distributing cocaine and heroin into U.S. territory, U.S. prosecutors said.

Gonzalez, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import cocaine and heroin into the United States and one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin on June 23. He was designated by the U.S. Justice Department as one of the most significant drug kingpins worldwide.

From 2007 until 2009, Gonzalez led an organization that imported thousands of kilograms of cocaine and heroin to locations in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries. From there, the narcotics were shipped to Europe and the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice designated Gonzalez’s organization a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) due to the expansive nature of its drug-trafficking organization. The group was listed among one of the most dangerous and prolific narcotics traffickers in the world.

In early 2009, two undercover operations, with the support and assistance of Colombia and the Dominican Republic, seized a large quantity of heroin and cocaine from Gonzalez organization. The narcotics secured had an estimated wholesale value of around $2 million.

The investigation led by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) also intercepted on recorded telephone conversations arranging the shipment of these narcotics to New York City. The Colombian drug kingpin was also intercepted planning the movement of tons of cocaine through South America to the U.S. and other countries.

Gonzalez, also known as "Patron," was also intercepted attempting to buy a number of large aircraft for the international transportation of large quantities of narcotics. He was arrested in the Dominican Republic in 2009.

The United States requested his extradition in order to be charged. In addition to his prison term, the drug lord was also sentenced to five yeas of supervised release.

"Today’s sentence should send a strong message to narcotics dealers around the world that if you try to smuggle drugs in our country we will find you, and prosecute you with the full force of the law," said Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District in Manhattan. "We will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners in the U.S. and Colombia to bring traffickers to justice ."

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