News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2002
Joe
Kilmer, Special Agent
Public Information Officer
Office: 305-994-4837
Cellular: 305-345-6085 |
Jim
Shedd, Special Agent
Public Information Officer (Spanish Media Contact)
Office: 305-994-4837
Cellular: 305-796-7344 |
Major
Colombian Drug Trafficker Extradicted To South Florida
Earlier
this morning, Colombian National Victor Julio PATINO-Fomeque was put on
a DEA airplane in Colombia for extradition to Miami to answer to drug
and money laundering charges. PATINO arrived in Miami this afternoon,
and was transported to the United States Marshal's Office in downtown
Miami for arrest processing.
PATINO was charged
via Indictment in July 2001 in Fort Lauderdale with Conspiracy to Import
Cocaine and Heroin and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering in the Southern
District of Florida. As a result of this indictment, PATINO has been in
custody in Colombia since April 2002.
DEA Miami Special
Agent in Charge Thomas W. Raffanello stated, "PATINO is a perfect
example of the type of major international drug trafficker the DEA targets
worldwide. DEA would like to commend the Colombian Government for their
cooperation and tireless efforts in bringing this man to justice."
An Initial Appearance
in Federal Magistrate's court is anticipated for PATINO on Monday, December
09, 2002 at 11:00 A.M. at the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Fort
Lauderdale.
DEA Public Information
Officers will be available for on-camera interviews in English and Spanish
with the media on Monday following the court appearance.
DEA video and photographic
coverage of the extradition will be made available later on this afternoon.
To obtain the video coverage you can contact Rich Phillips at CNN Miami
(305-892-5154) for uplink coordinates. No dubs will be made. To obtain
the the photographic coverage, please monitor the three major wire services
(AP, AFP, and Reuters). |