Colombia: Most-Wanted Drug Lord Captured

(CBS/AP)  A reputed drug lord on the FBI's top 10 most-wanted list was captured in western Colombia, the interior minister said Monday, in a major blow to the country's largest remaining drug cartel.

Diego Montoya, who sits alongside Osama Bin Laden as the only major alleged drug trafficker on the FBI list, is accused of leading the Norte del Valle cartel and exporting tons of cocaine to the United States. The FBI had offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to his arrest.

The FBI says Montoya is sought "in connection with the manufacture and distribution of multiple tons of cocaine." It said the cartel is aided by left-wing rebels as well as right-wing paramilitaries.

Montoya's brother, Eugenio Montoya Sanchez, was captured by Colombia in January.

The Norte del Valle cartel became Colombia's most powerful after the dismantling of the Medellin and Cali cartels in the 1980s and early 90s. Officials believe it is responsible for as much as 30 percent of the more than 550 tons of Colombian cocaine smuggled each year to the United States.

To protect its valuable drug routes, the cartel is believed to have worked closely with right-wing death squads whose umbrella organization, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, is listed as a terrorist organization by Washington.

Authorities have been closing in on the cartel since last year, when the army killed eight members of a private army believed to be protecting Diego Montoya.

A 2006 gunfight outside the Mi Casita psychiatric hospital left 11 Colombian police officers dead, and the police may have been acting on a tip that Montoya was hiding in the home, posing as a patient. There have been charges it was an ambush.

The Christian Science Monitor reports Montoya likes fast cars. Police in 2005 seized his personal mini racetrack last year, along with 74 ranches and eight houses. He is described as heavyset and gruff, and likes to be called "El Señor de la Guerra (War)."

Since taking office in 2002, President Alvaro Uribe, a key U.S. ally in Latin America, has approved the extradition of nearly 500 Colombians to the United States, the majority on drug-trafficking charges. For his aggressive stance, the United States has awarded Colombia with more than $700 million in annual anti-narcotic aid.

Most of those extradited have been low or midlevel drug traffickers. High-profile extraditions have included Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, brothers who helped found the Cali cartel.

Colombia is the source of 90 percent of the cocaine entering the United States. Supply has remained robust despite record extraditions and eradication of coca crops.

[cbsnews1972]

OLD5HITA55,
The article is referring to Columbian drug lords in COLUMBIA. What do Mexicans have to do with the Columbians? Stick to the topic at hand like everyone else. Also, check your spelling before you send it for all to read.

[old5hita55]

This is exackly why we cant alow these illegal aliens and mexicans up here! If tey can do this kind of crime in Ohio and not get caught theres no telling what they can do if they get to New York city.

[sgtrds]

Oh great! Bush is already murdering people around the globe. What''s going to happen now that his dealer has been busted and he''ll have to go through withdrawal! Someone get Bush a joint, a glass of whiskey, a beer, ANYTHING!!!! He''s already snow-blind, ain''t no telling what he''ll be like sober!

[genesauto]

I have another comment. Remember ''Nam? We still have stockpiles of Napalm. It burns really, really hot. All we need to do is nape the fields and areas they grow the coca plant. I believe it would cost a lot less than the $700 million that was previously mentioned here. We also have this group of extravagant militants on our east coast. ( Blackhawk? ) If the U.S. can''t legally do it, let them. Give them the Tomcats with the napalm and let them have their way. That way, we don''t create a "war zone" atmosphere.

[genesauto]

I would just like to meet the MFer that broke his nose. HAHA

[farmerbb]

There are two problems with illegal drugs. First, the damage caused by using them, to the mind or body. Second, the crimes committed by those in the business of manufacturing or distributing the drugs. They are only attracted to the business by the high profits. We have to decide as a society if we want to tolerate BOTH of these problems. I suggest we legalize ALL drugs, and have the government manufacture & distribute them, and guarantee there are no toxic additives. Then we warn all potential users of the dangers. If they want to quit, we help them. This concept takes all the profit, and the crime trying to get some of that profit, out of the drug trade. No more robberies to get drug money, as they will be really cheap. All we are left with is the damage to the individual. Do we set up huge expensive programs to stop people jumping off tall buildings ? No. We assume you have enough brains to understand the consequences. Let''s do the same with drugs. Those who die from overdoses, too bad. They just improved the gene pool.

[billpl-2009]

big deal

...another guy will replace him tomorrow morning

oh and Coke?...it grows on trees.
there''s no end to the supply

[mitywhity]

Drugs are tools of the devil himself

[gunownerdan]

To best fight crime and violence, cops say legalize and regulate drugs!
www.leap.cc
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

[olebd]

$700 MILLION U.S. dollars is given to Colombia each year to fight drugs. $700 MILLION annually. I''ll bet over half is squandered by their greedy, corrupt government.

Why not secure our borders and do some domestic drug enforcement with that money?

Why must we always shell out cash for the problems in these other countries????