US indicts neo-paramilitary, drug gang leaders

[Judi Lynn]

US indicts neo-paramilitary, drug gang leaders
Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:43
Adriaan Alsema

The United States has indicted several leaders of Colombian neo-paramilitary and drug gangs, a Florida U.S. attorney announced Wednesday.

The most prominent and recent indictment is that of Diego Perez Henao, alias "Diego Rastrojo," one of the three alleged leaders of the "Rastrojos" drug gang that operates from the south west of Colombia and is considered the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the country.

Apart from the Rastrojos leader, prosecutors previously indicted seven other Colombians involved in gangs that emerged from the now-defunt Norte del Valle cartel and demobilized paramilitary organization AUC.

According to U.S. Attorney Wilfredo Ferrer, the unit formed by the Southern District of Florida, the DEA, the U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Miami Field Office will work together with Colombian authorities and focus specifically on drug trafficking and neo-paramilitary organizations that took control of Colombia's drug trade after the demise of the old cartels and the AUC.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/14232-us-indicts-neo-paramilitary-drug-gang-leaders.html