This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/04/colombia-police-chief-drug-charges

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Colombian ex-police chief flown to US to face drug charges Colombian ex-police chief flown to US to face drug charges
(10 days later)
A retired police general who served as chief of security for former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has surrendered to the authorities and was flown to the US to face drug-trafficking charges.A retired police general who served as chief of security for former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has surrendered to the authorities and was flown to the US to face drug-trafficking charges.
Mauricio Santoyo handed himself over to US agents and was flown to Dulles International airport in Virginia in a US government plane, authorities said. He was to appear before a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, on Thursday, the local US attorney's office said in a statement.Mauricio Santoyo handed himself over to US agents and was flown to Dulles International airport in Virginia in a US government plane, authorities said. He was to appear before a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, on Thursday, the local US attorney's office said in a statement.
An indictment in eastern Virginia charges Santoyo with conspiracy to export cocaine and alleges that he betrayed international counter-narcotics operations from 2002 to 2008. It claims he conducted unauthorised wiretaps on behalf of drug-traffickers and identified murder targets for them.An indictment in eastern Virginia charges Santoyo with conspiracy to export cocaine and alleges that he betrayed international counter-narcotics operations from 2002 to 2008. It claims he conducted unauthorised wiretaps on behalf of drug-traffickers and identified murder targets for them.
He is alleged to have received at least $5m (£3.2m) in return.He is alleged to have received at least $5m (£3.2m) in return.
Santoyo was Uribe's security chief from 2002 to 2005.Santoyo was Uribe's security chief from 2002 to 2005.
The case has been a major issue in Colombia, source of most of the cocaine sold in the US, because of Santoyo's privileged post in Uribe's government, which forged a peace pact with far-right militias, whose leaders included major drug-traffickers.The case has been a major issue in Colombia, source of most of the cocaine sold in the US, because of Santoyo's privileged post in Uribe's government, which forged a peace pact with far-right militias, whose leaders included major drug-traffickers.
Before being appointed to the post, Santoyo had run an anti-kidnapping unit in Medellin, where individuals under his command are alleged to have engaged in illegal wiretaps, including of two human rights activists who later disappeared.Before being appointed to the post, Santoyo had run an anti-kidnapping unit in Medellin, where individuals under his command are alleged to have engaged in illegal wiretaps, including of two human rights activists who later disappeared.
The US indictment alleges Santoyo betrayed the Colombian state on behalf of a criminal organisation called the Envigado Office, which in addition to engaging in drug-trafficking also provided "enforcers" including assassins.The US indictment alleges Santoyo betrayed the Colombian state on behalf of a criminal organisation called the Envigado Office, which in addition to engaging in drug-trafficking also provided "enforcers" including assassins.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.