Three men who are wanted for extradition to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges are captured in Colombia’s capital Bogota, El Tiempo reported Wednesday.
The men are Jose Fernando Gutierrez Lopesierra, the brother of the already-extradited Samuel Santander Lopesierra, alias “El Hombre Marlboro,” (Marlboro man) and the two brothers Diego Rodolfo and Jose Enrique Baez Baez, who form part of the “Baez Clan.”
A federal court in Florida has officially requested their extradition, accusing them of transporting at least 10 tons of cocaine into the country.
In a joint operation featuring the collaboration of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Colombian authorities, the Baez brothers were caught while attempting to pass themselves off as traders and farmers in the commercial area of San Andresito, Bogota.
Police said that the “Baez Clan” have been in operation since at least 2007 after establishing their business in partnership with ex-paramilitary leader Pedraza Eder Peña, alias “Ramon Mojana.”