DATE=11/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA-EXTRADITION (L-O)
NUMBER=2-256436
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Columbia is preparing to extradite more
accused drug traffickers to the United States
following the transfer Sunday of a suspected heroin
dealer to Florida. Correspondent Bill Rodgers reports
from our South American bureau.
TEXT: About 40 jailed drug traffickers in Colombia
are awaiting possible extradition to the United States
after Colombia's Supreme Court issues rulings on their
cases. Decisions on some of these cases are expected
in coming days.
The court has authorized the extradition of a
Venezuelan, Fernando Flores, who was detained in
Bogota more than one-year ago.
Mr. Flores would be next in line to follow Sunday's
extradition of Jaime Orlando Lara -- a suspected
heroin trafficker. He is the first Colombian to be
sent to the United States to face drug charges since
1997 when the Colombian government lifted its ban.
His transfer came 10-days after a terrorist bombing in
Bogota, which authorities suspect was carried out as a
warning by drug traffickers against extraditions.
President Andres Pastrana signed Mr. Lara's
extradition papers hours after that bombing killed
eight-people.
On Sunday, the suspected heroin trafficker was taken
to a Bogota air base and put on board a plane
belonging to the U-S Drug Enforcement Agency, bound
for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Colombia's judicial
police director, General Ismael Trujillo - who
supervised the transfer - told reporters Mr. Lara's
extradition was handled in accordance to the law/
/// TRUJILLO SPANISH ACT ///
He said the accused was given all the rights
guaranteed by Colombian law to a person who is
detained.
President Pastrana said later the extradition is part
of his government's policy to ensure that Colombia
does not become, what he called -- a paradise for
crime.
Mr. Lara is wanted by a federal court in New York on
charges of smuggling heroin into United States. If
convicted, he could face life in prison. (SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/LTD-T/RAE
22-Nov-1999 09:33 AM EDT (22-Nov-1999 1433 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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