A former underboss of the now-defunct Cali Cartel denied Tuesday he had ties with a former congresswoman who has been charged with laundering cartel money.
Former drug trafficker Phanor Arizabaleta was called to testify against Dilian Francisca Toro who was jailed while on trial for her alleged links to the Cali drug trafficking organization.
Arizabaleta however told the court he only knew Toro from television and never maintained any commercial relationship with the former senator.
According to the prosecution, documents and testimonies have indicated it was “highly probable” that Toro bought several houses in 2005 belonging to high-ranking members of the Cali Cartel as well as property belonging to a now-extradited drug trafficker.
The prosecution also said it would try to determine whether the senator had collaborated with the former leader of the Cali cartel, Victor Julio Patiño, to launder more than $2.8 million of drug money. Toro has denied all accusations.
