He was considered one of the most powerful drug lords in the world – now a court in the USA has sentenced the Colombian cartel boss “Otoniel” to 45 years in prison. The punishment is a message to other cartel leaders, emphasized the responsible public prosecutor.
The powerful Colombian drug dealer and cartel boss Dairo Antonio Úsuga aka “Otoniel” has been sentenced to 45 years in prison in the United States. The judge in charge in New York found it proven that the leader of the crime syndicate “Clan del Golfo” (Golf Clan) had smuggled large quantities of cocaine into the United States.
In addition, “Otoniel” was fined 216 million US dollars. The 51-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this year. “Otoniel ran one of the largest drug trafficking rings in the world, smuggling massive amounts of cocaine into the United States,” said US Attorney General Merrick Garland. “He ordered the ruthless execution of Colombian police officers, soldiers and civilians.”
Condemnation as a message to other cartel leaders
“The scale of the human misery caused by the defendant’s bloody reign as leader of the Gulf clan can never be fully grasped,” said US Attorney Breon Peace. “But today’s long sentence sends a message to other cartel leaders that the United States will seek their arrest and extradition to hold them accountable in our courts.”
“Otoniel” led the Gulf clan between 2003 and 2021 and made it the most powerful criminal organization in Colombia. The crime syndicate recruits its members mainly from former right-wing paramilitaries and is said to have around 6,000 men under arms. In addition to drug trafficking, the Gulf clan is also involved in illegal mining and racketeering and is responsible for numerous murders and expulsions.