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Colombian drug lords jailed in US Colombian drug lords jailed in US
(about 6 hours later)
Two brothers who led Colombia's infamous Cali drug cartel have each been sentenced to 30 years in US jails.Two brothers who led Colombia's infamous Cali drug cartel have each been sentenced to 30 years in US jails.
Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela pleaded guilty in a federal court in Miami to conspiring to import 200,000kg (441,000lb) of cocaine into the US.Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela pleaded guilty in a federal court in Miami to conspiring to import 200,000kg (441,000lb) of cocaine into the US.
The sentencing came after the pair reached a plea agreement. The sentencing came after the pair reached a plea agreement to forfeit $2.1bn (£1.1bn) while charges against some of their relatives were dropped.
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said the brothers' guilty plea "signals the final, fatal blow to the powerful Cali Cartel". The US attorney general said the deal was the cartel's final, fatal blow.
Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, who founded the cartel, were once considered among the world's most powerful criminals. "This is a day of pride for the people of Colombia and for international law enforcement," Alberto Gonzales said.
Under the deal with prosecutors, they agreed to forfeit $2.1bn (£1.1bn), while money laundering and other charges against some of their relatives were dropped.
Empire run from jailEmpire run from jail
The BBC Jeremy Mc Dermott in Bogota says the brothers were always family orientated and that, in the end, was the reason for their guilty plea. The brothers founded the cartel and were once considered among the world's most powerful criminals.
The BBC's Jeremy Mc Dermott in Bogota says they were always family-orientated and that, in the end, was the reason for their guilty plea.
They struck a deal with prosecutors to protect six relatives from money-laundering and obstruction charges. Twenty-eight family members will be allowed to hold onto some assets not tainted by drugs.
"The brothers are happy that their families are taken care of," said Roy Kahn, a lawyer for the family.
"And to them, whether it's 30, 20 or 15 years - to them it's going to be a lifetime in jail. But they're willing to do that for their family's future and their family's welfare."
Clever traffickers
The Cali cartel was once responsible for up to 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the US, and was known for its ingenious smuggling methods that hid cocaine in hollowed-out timber, cylinders of chlorine, and even shipments of frozen broccoli and okra.The Cali cartel was once responsible for up to 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the US, and was known for its ingenious smuggling methods that hid cocaine in hollowed-out timber, cylinders of chlorine, and even shipments of frozen broccoli and okra.
Miguel, 63, was extradited to the US in March, three months after his brother Gilberto, 67, was flown to Miami. Both initially pleaded not guilty.Miguel, 63, was extradited to the US in March, three months after his brother Gilberto, 67, was flown to Miami. Both initially pleaded not guilty.
The brothers were accused of organising drug trafficking and money laundering from the Colombian prison in which they had been held since 1995. The brothers were accused of organising drug-trafficking and money-laundering from the Colombian prison in which they had been held since 1995.
In March, William Rodriguez Abadia, Gilberto's son, was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison by a judge in Miami, after he agreed to co-operate against his father and his uncle.In March, William Rodriguez Abadia, Gilberto's son, was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison by a judge in Miami, after he agreed to co-operate against his father and his uncle.
Abadia, a lawyer, is alleged to have led the cartel after the pair were arrested in 1995.Abadia, a lawyer, is alleged to have led the cartel after the pair were arrested in 1995.