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Arizona Tribune - Colombian drug lord 'Otoniel' pleads not guilty in US court

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Colombian drug lord 'Otoniel' pleads not guilty in US court
Colombian drug lord 'Otoniel' pleads not guilty in US court / Photo: Kena Betancur - AFP

Colombian drug lord 'Otoniel' pleads not guilty in US court

BOULEVARD 05.05.2022

One of Colombia's most notorious drug lords pleaded not guilty to trafficking charges in a New York court Thursday following his extradition to the United States.

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Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as "Otoniel," did not ask for bail during the arraignment in Brooklyn.

The 50-year-old Usuga was the leader of Colombia's largest narco-trafficking gang, known as the Gulf Clan.

The United States accuses Usuga and the Gulf Clan of illegally bringing at least 73 tons of cocaine into the country between 2003 and 2012.

He was the most-wanted person in Colombia until he was arrested last October in the northwest of the country after a massive military operation.

On Wednesday afternoon, a convoy of five bulletproof police vehicles transported him from a prison in the capital Bogota to a military airport, where he was handed over to US Drug Enforcement Administration officials.

He landed in New York around 11:30 PM (0330 GMT Thursday).

Usuga wore orange prison garb and was handcuffed during his first appearance in the Brooklyn federal court.

He has been charged with criminal enterprise and international cocaine manufacturing and distribution.

Usuga asked to be held in detention until his trial and judge Vera Scanlon set a date of June 2 for the defendant's next court appearance.

P.A.Mendoza--AT

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