Alias Nicolás, the second in command of the Gulf Clan asks to be extradited for fear of being killed

On November 25, 2021, the Supreme Court of Justice endorsed the extradition to the United States of Carlos Antonio Moreno Tuberquia, alias Nicolás, accused of being the second leader of the Gulf Clan, considered the largest criminal and drug trafficking gang in Colombia, for drug trafficking. However, four months have passed and he still has no date for the process to take place due to multiple factors against him, so through a letter addressed to the head of government, Iván Duque, he asked that the process be accelerated because different sources have let him know that his life is at risk.

“I am aware both from the media and from alerts provided to me by the Attorney General's Office that individuals and armed groups have an interest in ending my life before being extradited, fearing the cooperation I may do while there. I ask you, Mr. President, on a legal and humanitarian basis, that it be processed immediately”, says the lieutenant of 'Otoniel' in his letter, which was published by the newspaper El Tiempo.

The document also emphasizes that in recent years it has tried to give as much information as possible to transitional justice agencies such as the JEP and the Truth Commission, but that it is not an excuse to stop their extradition but is a way of showing their willingness to cooperate.

“I have reported my disappointment in the conflict for more than 24 years, but my intention to be part of the Integral System of Truth, created by the peace agreement, has never been to obstruct, delay or prevent my extradition process to the United States and it is my legal, personal and exemplary duty to respond to justice for the mistakes I have made ”, wrote Moreno Tuberquia.

Alias Nicolás, who was arrested on August 5, 2018 in a joint operation between the Anti-Narcotics Police and the Prosecutor's Office in the municipality of San Rafael, department of Antioquia, had ten arrest warrants against him for the crimes of forced disappearance and forced displacement, financing of terrorism, aggravated homicide and drug trafficking. Alias Nicolás is also being investigated for events that occurred in the national territory, especially in areas controlled by 'Los Urabeños' such as the eastern plains region, Necoclí, Turbo, Cartagena and Apartadó.

Let us recall that on March 10, the Civil Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice admitted a tutelage action filed by leaders of communities victims of the armed conflict in the region of Lower Atrato Chocoano against the extradition of Carlos Antonio Moreno Tuberquia, second in command of the Gulf Clan.

The history of this guardianship began on November 25 when the same chamber of the Court issued a 69-page concept approving the request submitted by the United States Government regarding the extradition of alias Nicolás to answer for the crime of drug trafficking before the justice of this country.

Then, on December 13, President Iván Duque signed the extradition order. “With his extradition, we ratified our cooperation with allied countries in the fight against this scourge, which has claimed thousands of lives in Colombia and the world,” the president said at the time through his Twitter account.

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