US Treasury names associates to Colombian drug lord

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

US Treasury names associates to Colombian drug lord
Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:04PM EDT


WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday named 23 Colombian individuals and 23 Colombian companies as narcotics traffickers tied to alleged drug kingpin Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia.

The action freezes any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits all American individuals and firms from conducting any financial or commercial transactions with them.

Ramirez Abadia, 44, was arrested in a dawn raid on Aug. 7 at a mansion in a gated community outside of Sao Paulo, Brazil, where authorities say he oversaw a multibillion dollar drug ring that stretched to Europe and the United States.

Since his arrest, Ramirez Abadia has made it clear that he wants to be extradited to the United States, where he is wanted on drug trafficking charges and in connection with the murder of 15 people, including some police officers.

His lawyer said on Tuesday he is trying to avoid extradition to Colombia, where Ramirez Abadia fears for his life.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1524432020070815

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Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, "Chupeta," had his face altered
surgically to avoid detection. Didn't work, apparently.