News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2001
FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Michael L. Chapman, Chief, Public Affairs
(202) 307-7977
Head
of One of the Worlds Largest Cocaine Transportation
Organizations Extradited to the United States
Alejandro Bernal-Madrigal
AKA "Juvenal"
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On October
30, 2001, the Government of Colombia extradited Alejandro Bernal-Madrigal,
AKA Juvenal, to the United States to stand trial on federal
drug charges. Bernal-Madrigal, Fabio Ochoa, and others were arrested in
Colombia on October 13, 1999, as a result of Operation Millennium. This
operation targeted Bernal-Madrigals criminal organization which,
in 1998 and 1999, smuggled 20 to 30 tons of cocaine per month through
Mexico into the United States. The organization used containerized cargo,
mothership/go-fast operations, fishing vessels, and general
aviation aircraft in their illegal enterprise.
Cocaine
smuggling containers used by the Juvenal organization.
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According to DEA
Administrator Asa Hutchinson, Bernal-Madrigal is the 30th
Colombian citizen extradited to the United States since the re-implementation
of extradition in 1997. His extradition provides further evidence of the
Colombian Governments commitment to dismantling drug trafficking
organizations based in their country. The DEA will continue its efforts
with Colombian authorities to bring these notorious drug traffickers to
justice.
Bernal-Madrigal was
a member of the infamous Medellin Cartel and later ran the worlds
largest cocaine transportation organization. He is being extradited to
the Southern District of Florida for charges alleging that he operated
a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspired to import and distribute cocaine,
and that he oversaw the organizations money laundering activities.
The
DEA will continue its efforts with Colombian authorities to bring
these notorious drug traffickers to justice. - Asa
Hutchinson, DEA Administrator
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