Convicted Colombian “parapolitician” Juan Carlos Martinez could face extradition to the U.S after authorities announced he is being investigated for drug trafficking.
The Colombian deputy director of the National Police confirmed that international agencies are investigating alleged links between the disgraced ex-senator and drug smuggling to various countries.
“Right now they are coordinating with international organizations in order to ensure evidence collection for the extradition [to the U.S.] of Juan Carlos Martinez,” said the officer.
During the investigation process, it was revealed that the former senator may have used drug money to funds his political campaigns.
Carlos Martinez is currently serving a 7.5 year sentence in Barranquilla. He was moved from La Picota prison in Bogota following scandals over lavish birthday parties.
He was recently in the news for having succeeded in securing a temporary release from prison to campaign for his selected candidates in the coming elections.
He is a senior figure in the Movimiento de Inclusion y Oportunidades (MIO) party and has ties to the Afrovides and Partido de Integracion Nacional (PIN) parties.
According to a recent La Semana profile of Martinez, he is endorsing 5 candidates for governor, 101 for deputies, 106 for mayor and 156 councillors in the elections at the end of this month.
La Semana quote Martinez as having said, “Politics is better business than drug trafficking.”