Accused Colombian drug kingpin admits to U.S. cocaine scheme

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Accused Colombian drug kingpin admits to U.S. cocaine scheme

BY NATE RAYMOND
NEW YORK Thu Nov 20, 2014 4:12pm EST

(Reuters) - For the second time in two months, a Colombian accused of being a drug kingpin and pursued for years by U.S. authorities pleaded guilty to federal charges in a New York courtroom on Thursday.

Daniel Barrera, 47, faces life in prison after pleading guilty in Manhattan federal court to a charge that he conspired to manufacture and import cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States.

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U.S. authorities have accused Barrera of running a cocaine manufacturing and trafficking syndicate since 1998 that processed about 400 tons of the drug annually.

Prosecutors say Barrera bought the raw cocaine paste from the leftist rebel group FARC and processed it in laboratories in areas controled by a now-demobilized paramilitary group, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/20/us-usa-colombia-barrera-idUSKCN0J42FB20141120

[Judi Lynn]

1. They finally named him! Good news. 400 tons of cocaine a years?

Unbelievable.

Here's his photo. Had to find it as soon as I saw your post.

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