Colombian police announced the capture of a major drug trafficking suspect believed to be a close associate of Bogota's most wanted druglord and also sought by the United States.
Officials said 57-year-old Luis Fernando Otalvaro was part of a group known as "the board of directors of drug trafficking," headed at one time by Luis Agustin Caicedo, known as "Don Lucho," who is being held by the United States.
A police statement said Otalvaro, known as "the mathematician," was captured on Tuesday at Medellin airport as he tried to board a commercial flight for the southwestern Colombian city of Cali.
US justice officials say Otalvaro smuggled some 60 tons of cocaine into the United States between 2004 and 2007.
He is believed to be a close associate of Daniel "El Loco" Barrera, one of Colombia's most wanted drug traffickers.
Drug traffickers use speedboats to transport the narcotics across the Caribbean and make an estimated $24 million per ton.
Fourteen members of the Barrera gang, also sought by the United States, were arrested in Colombia in November.
Colombia nabs drug trafficking suspect sought by US
Colombian police announced the capture of a major drug trafficking suspect believed to be a close associate of Bogota's most wanted druglord and also sought by the United States.
Officials said 57-year-old Luis Fernando Otalvaro was part of a group known as "the board of directors of drug trafficking," headed at one time by Luis Agustin Caicedo, known as "Don Lucho," who is being held by the United States.
A police statement said Otalvaro, known as "the mathematician," was captured on Tuesday at Medellin airport as he tried to board a commercial flight for the southwestern Colombian city of Cali.
US justice officials say Otalvaro smuggled some 60 tons of cocaine into the United States between 2004 and 2007.
He is believed to be a close associate of Daniel "El Loco" Barrera, one of Colombia's most wanted drug traffickers.
Drug traffickers use speedboats to transport the narcotics across the Caribbean and make an estimated $24 million per ton.
Fourteen members of the Barrera gang, also sought by the United States, were arrested in Colombia in November.
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