An alleged drug trafficker who pioneered the use of submarines for drug smuggling into the United States has been captured, reported local media Sunday.
Jose Samir Renteria, alias “Morfi”, wanted by American authorities, was arrested in western Colombia Saturday.
Renteria has reportedly been involved in the drug trade since the mid-1980s, when he allegedly began smuggling cocaine into the US using speedboats. He is believed to have been involved in several drug shipments intercepted between 2002 and 2009, resulting in the confiscation of over 14.5 tonnes of cocaine, according to Colombian authorities.
Morfi has alleged ties with both the FARC and Colombian drug trafficking organization “Los Rastrojos”. He served as a middleman between the Norte del Valle cartel in Colombia and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, according to Colombian investigators.
The Colombian Navy says it has seized at least 66 semi-submersible vessels used by drug smugglers since 2003.