Drug lord's private island seized

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Chicago Sun-Times/Associated Press

Drug lord's private island seized

August 28, 2007
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOGOTA, Colombia---- Colombia said Monday it has seized a private Caribbean island and hundreds of other properties allegedly used by powerful cocaine trafficker to launder millions of dollars in drug profits.
Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia was arrested in a luxury condominium on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Aug. 7. He faces three U.S. federal indictments on drug and racketeering charges, and U.S. officials have said they plan to seek his extradition.

Colombian authorities said they seized 300 properties across the country -- including farms, apartments, empty lots, a hotel and gymnasium -- worth about $400 million.

They also seized a private island near the Caribbean tourist city of Cartagena, four cars and 18 private businesses, among them a travel agency and real estate company. They gave no details on the island.

Ramirez Abadia, 44, said in an interview Sunday night with TV Globo's Fantastico news and entertainment program -- Brazil's most popular -- that his arrest will not affect drug trafficking.



Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/531005,drug082807.article

---

Makes you wonder at what point he got on the Colombian government's bad side.

[Greeby]

1. Thought for a second they were talking about

Walker Point in Kennebunkport :think:

[Judi Lynn]

2. Reuters: Colombia seizes island from drug lord 'Lollipop'

Colombia seizes island from drug lord 'Lollipop'

Reuters

BOGOTA - Colombia said on Monday it had seized $400 million in property, including a Caribbean island, from a cocaine baron arrested in Brazil this month and is awaiting extradition to the United States on drug charges.

Some 322 properties including farms, apartment buildings, a hotel, a gymnasium and an Island off the port of Cartagena were stripped from Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, nicknamed Lollipop, or Chupeta in Colombian Spanish, authorities said.

Ramirez Abadia, who gained notoriety in the 1990s as a leader of the still powerful Norte del Valle cartel based near Cali, used plastic surgery to change his appearance in a bid to avoid being identified.
(snip)

Since his arrest, Ramirez Abadia has made it clear he wants to be extradited to the United States, saying he would fear for his life if returned to Colombia.
(snip/...)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=90174

[CJCRANE]

3. Maybe the govt officials

realized they could make more by confiscating all his stuff instead of accepting bribes.

[derby378]

4. If nobody's using the island...

...can I have it?

DU Party on the Carribean!! BYOB!!

:woohoo:

[heliarc]

5. Guess the price of Hastert's cocaine supply was too low. nt

[Javaman]

6. Will this now become the CIA's new drug supply point? nt