FARC commander sentenced to 20 years in US jail

A former leader in the Colombian guerrilla group FARC has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

Jorge Enrique Rodriguez Mendieta, alias “Ivan Vargas”, pleaded guilty in December to an indictment accusing him of importing tons of cocaine into the U.S.

A federal judge in Washington sentenced him on Friday.

Rodriguez Mendieta was a commander in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which prosecutors said controls half the world’s cocaine supply.

The U.S. has designated it as a narco-terrorist organization.

Rodriguez Mendieta was arrested in 2004 and extradited to the U.S. in 2007.

He was prosecuted in Washington by federal prosecutors from New York City, who have expertise in cases involving FARC.

Related posts

Former mayor assassinated in southern Colombia

Former top Petro aide jailed amid corruption probe

Former Medellin Cartel boss te return to Colombia on December 12