Suspected Colombian Drug Boss Extradited & Booked In Miami
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Suspected Colombian drug trafficker and long-time fugitive Henry De Jesus Lopez Londoño has been booked into the Federal Detention Center in Miami after being extradited to the U.S.
The U.S. Marshals Service said a group of deputy marshals traveled to Argentina Tuesday where they teamed up with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Defense Security Service.
Officials said the security surrounding this high-priority move was very intense.
"They incorporated two military helicopters, a heavily-guarded motorcade that was utilized today as well as several SWAT teams," said U.S. Marshal Service Senior Inspector Barry Golden.
Once Argentinian officials handed Lopez Londoño over to U.S. authorities at the airport, he was flown to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and was then transported to the Federal Detention Center in Downtown Miami.
"We had another team of Deputy Marshals that were on the ground here when Mr. Lopez Londoño arrived to make that transition from Fort Lauderdale airport to the Federal Detention Center in Miami," said Golden.
Lopez Londoño, a Colombian native, is accused of leading a conspiracy that aimed to send drugs to the United States.
The 45-year-old known as "Mi Sangre" – "My Blood" – was the head of the Urabeños gang in northern Colombia, according to published reports.
He'd been held in a federal prison in Buenos Aires since 2012, after being arrested in a joint operation between Argentine and Colombian security forces.
His attorney says his extradition came as a surprise.
"This just happened all of a sudden. We found out this morning that he was being extradited so we're just reacting to that event," said Arturo V. Hernandez, Lopez Londoño's attorney. "He will plead not guilty. He professes to being innocent of the charges and he will see. We will use the American system of justice to ultimately make a determination of what his fate is going to be."
Hernandez said he will find out Friday morning when his client will appear in federal court.