The Colombian government reported on Friday the extradition to the United States of Nini Johana Úsuga David, sister of who is known as ‘Otoniel’ and who was the top leader of the Clan del Golfo.
“Nini Johana Úsuga David, alias ‘la Negra’, sister of alias ‘Otoniel’ and in charge of the finances of the Clan del Golfo based on money laundering and links with international cartels for the shipment of cocaine to different countries”, indicated the National Police through a tweet, in which images of the transfer could also be seen.
Johana, 40, is weighing a request to appear in court before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accused of allegedly associating with other people to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine to that country.
‘La Negra’ was in charge of laundering the funds of the Clan del Golfo, as well as establishing ties with international organizations to send cocaine, according to Colombian authorities.
His capture in March 2021 in Colombia marked the end of an intense search by Interpol. Since then, he awaited his extradition, endorsed in April 2022 by the Colombian Supreme Court.
Along with Nini Johana, six other people were extradited on Friday on the plane of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA, for its acronym in English). Among them, two former members of the extinct guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who breached the peace agreement signed with the State in 2016.
With ‘Otoniel’, the Clan del Golfo became very powerful in Colombia, with more than 3,500 members and the ability to traffic 20 tons of cocaine per month. It is a family structure, the Colombian authorities have captured 17 of their relatives and killed three more.
‘Otoniel’, Colombia’s most wanted drug trafficker,was extradited in May this year to the United States, where he pleaded not guilty to drug charges. He was captured in October 2021 in the mountains of the northwest of the country, where he had always been involved in criminal activities, in a military operation that deployed more than 500 men.
* Some of the information for this report came from the AP agency.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel YouTube and turn on notifications, or follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter e Instagram.
