Alleged Colombian cartel head due in New York court after extradition
GuardianMay 05, 2022
The accused leader of Colombia's Clan del Golfo, Dairo Úsuga, pleaded not guilty to US drug trafficking charges on Thurs. in a federal court, and was ordered to be detained in NY pending trial.
Úsuga, also known by the alias 'Otoniel,' was charged with leading a criminal enterprise from 2003 through 2021, and participating in an international conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine that was intended to be illegally imported into the US.
Otoniel's extradition has been extolled as a triumph against drug lords, but it has no impact in curbing Gulf Clan activity. As he faces trial in the US, conflicts boom and victims are forgotten.
The extradition won't prevent Colombia from making Otoniel pay for his crimes in the nation once he has been prosecuted in the US. He reportedly disclosed links between the drug cartel, politicians, enforcement agencies, and civil society and will keep collaborating with local authorities' investigations.