What the arrival of the former boss of the Medellín cartel means for Colombia.
News Colombia.
The news of the return of Fabio Ochoa, one of the main founders of the Medellín cartel, has generated a great stir in Colombia. After spending almost 20 years in a US prison, he will be deported to the country, as confirmed by General William Salamanca, director of the National Police.
Ochoa’s arrival at Bogotá’s El Dorado airport marks a new chapter in the history of one of the most notorious figures in Colombian drug trafficking.
Fabio Ochoa Vásquez, known as the youngest of the Ochoa brothers, was arrested in 1999 and extradited to the United States in 2001 under a decree signed by then-president Andrés Pastrana.
In 2003, a federal court in Florida sentenced him to more than 30 years in prison for drug trafficking, a sentence that was reduced for good behavior. Since September of this year, his transfer to a low-security immigration prison made it clear that his deportation to Colombia was imminent.
Despite her criminal record, Defense Minister Iván Velásquez has made it clear that Ochoa will not receive special protection from the Colombian State.
«There is no reason to give special protection. They return as normal citizens and we hope that they also behave like normal citizens”Velasquez stated.
Ochoa’s arrival in Colombia will not be a simple procedure. General Salamanca assured that meetings will be held with US authorities and the Prosecutor’s Office to finalize the details of his deportation and analyze his legal situation.
Although it is presumed that he has no active proceedings against him, his return could reopen old debates about the forfeiture of assets linked to drug trafficking and its impact on society.
A past marked by drug trafficking
Fabio Ochoa was a central character in the Medellín cartel, known for having transported more than 30 tons of cocaine to the United States between 1997 and 1999.
He was also linked to the murder of Barry Seal, a pilot who collaborated with the DEA.
His capture in 1991, followed by his submission to justice and subsequent release in 1996, did not prevent him from resuming his illegal activities. In 1999, he was arrested again, marking the beginning of his extradition process.
In prison, he was reported to have participated in projects related to renewable energy, an unexpected turn in the life of one of the country’s most notorious drug traffickers.
The impact of his return
The return of Fabio Ochoa, next Thursday, December 12, raises questions about his role in current Colombian society.
Although his criminal record positions him as a symbol of the country’s dark past, his arrival as a deportee could represent an opportunity to reflect on how the stories of rehabilitation and reintegration of controversial figures are addressed.
With this new stage, the name of Fabio Ochoa will once again occupy the headlines, reminding Colombia of a chapter that still resonates in the collective memory.
With information from El Tiempo and Blu Radio.
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