These are the accusations for which Otoniel, the leader of the Gulf clan in Colombia, would be extradited to the United States

Dairo Antonio Úsuga brings together in his biography a large sample of violence and conflict in Colombia. He joined the armed organizations at the age of 16 and went through the PLA guerrilla, then joined the FARC and landed in the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia in a radical turn. More than 30 years that have added multiple processes in Colombia and the request for extradition in two United States courts, where it will go to pay to respond to justice first, as seems to indicate the progress of the process.

On April 6, the Supreme Court of Justice endorsed the extradition of Úsuga David, the top leader of the Gulf Clan, to the United States, where he is required for crimes related to drug trafficking.

The Court of the Southern District of Florida and the Eastern Court of New York have requested the extradition of alias Otoniel. In that country, it will have to answer for the shipment of tons of cocaine, having become the main Colombian drug trafficker in the last decade, according to Defense Minister Diego Molano.

The evidence available to the US courts indicates that Otoniel led the shipment of cocaine to that country, since 2002, when he was preparing his criminal activity as an independent, departing from the AUC's attempts to demobilize.

This process describes the process of organizing the paramilitary strongholds that did not demobilize and formed new structures, such as Los Urabeños, in which Otoniel forged his alliance with alias Don Mario (Daniel Rendón Herrera), whom he succeeded in command since 2009 when he was captured, the newspaper El Tiempo reported.

The file, known to that newspaper, reconstructs, through cooperating witnesses, how Úsuga David came to lead drug trafficking from Colombia to the United States. Not only with their own cargo, but also with the control of areas and routes, and taxes on other drug traffickers. There is evidence that for only three years, between 2015 and 2018, they would have coordinated the shipment of 20 tons to North America.

To send thousands of kilos of cocaine to the United States, Otoniel used illegal boats, planes and containers. As well as receivers in several Central American countries, to achieve their arrival in the north of the continent. In addition, he benefited from other shipments in which he did not own, by charging up to $500 per kilo from other drug traffickers.

The charge in the indictment, according to Noticas RCN, corresponds to international distribution of cocaine, based on at least 26 shipments of at least one ton each, that authorities have documented or that were thwarted by anti-trafficking forces. He is also accused of maintaining a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking.

After being extradited, the news program explained, Úsuga David must decide whether to deny the charges and face trial with the authorities of that country, or establish a cooperation agreement. After serving the sentence imposed in the United States Otoniel must return to Colombia to serve sentences exceeding 40 years in prison and, it is expected, with the truth, for the thousands of victims he left behind in his criminal transfer.

After the news broke, different people have spoken out, among them, the President of the Republic, Iván Duque, who welcomed the decision and noted that the procedure will be carried out quickly.

“First to highlight the patriotic work that the Supreme Court of Justice has done in endorsing the extradition of alias Otoniel, now we will also proceed from the side of the executive branch with the necessary speed to advance this decision,” the president said, adding that: “With this procedure already taken, what comes next is the signing by and from that moment on there is a space of 10 days that have to be fulfilled according to the law, but the idea is clear and it is also incontrovertible. We are going to extradite that criminal, that bandija, that sewer rat as soon as possible.”

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