Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Alleged Colombian Drug Lord Extradited to U.S.

Aired September 08, 2001 - 08:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: It took nearly two years but Fabio Ochoa, an alleged drug lord from Colombia, is on U.S. soil this morning. Ochoa was extradited overnight after losing a legal battle in Colombia. We'll bring you the video of his arrival in Miami as soon as that becomes available. Ochoa is expected to face trial on drug trafficking charges contained in a 1999 federal indictment.

We get more now from CNN's Mark Potter. He's in Miami.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fabio Ochoa and his family fought desperately against his extradition to the United States, erecting billboards that read, "Before I Was Mistaken, Now I Am Innocent." He also opened a Web site where he vigorously defended himself against charges he is still active in the cocaine business.

Law enforcement officials say Ochoa's time has run out and that his extradition will serve notice on other Colombian kingpins.

MARK SCHNAPP, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: If anything, it eliminates a psychological advantage that the trafficker has down there that I can't be touched. That just changed.

POTTER: Drug agents say Fabio Ochoa was one of the leaders of Colombia's infamous Medellin cocaine cartel. In the 1970s and '80s, the trafficking group operated like a major corporation and allegedly manufactured and smuggled billions of dollars worth of cocaine into the United States.

JIM MILFORD, FORMER DEA SUPERVISOR: Fabio Ochoa and his family and his partners in crime in that trafficking activity were one of the major reasons that cocaine rose to the levels it is today, what it is today in the United States and throughout the world.

POTTER: In 1986, Fabio Ochoa and other accused traffickers, including the notorious Pablo Escobar, were indicted in the United States for allegedly running a criminal enterprise and murdering a U.S. drug informant.

(on camera): Facing trial here in the U.S.,

Ochoa surrendered to Colombian authorities in 1990 after receiving assurances he would not be extradited for past crimes. He and two of his brothers served less than six years in prison.

(voice-over): But three years after his release, Fabio Ochoa was arrested in Colombia, once again accused of taking part in a major smuggling scheme. Allegedly, 20 to 30 tons of cocaine a month was smuggled through Mexico to the United States. This time, Colombian President Andres Pastrana, himself once kidnapped by drug traffickers, ordered Ochoa extradited to the United States. By agreement, he can only be tried on the latest charge, not the earlier indictments.

U.S. drug agents concede Ochoa's arrest and extradition will have little, if any impact, on the availability of cocaine in the United States. With many new smuggling groups now, trafficking is still a multi-billion dollar business.

SCHNAPP: For anyone to say, you know, this is the drug, winning the drug war, that's just a ridiculous proposition. We're not. Drugs are cheaper, they're being shipped in greater quantities. It's just less visible.

POTTER: But to authorities, the extradition of an alleged cocaine trafficking pioneer is still a major and long awaited catch.

Mark Potter, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: And with us now from Washington to outline more of the federal government's case against Ochoa and what will happen next is Asa Hutchinson, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He took over the post about a month ago. He's a former Arkansas congressman and a former federal prosecutor as well.

Thank you for being here, Mr. Hutchinson.

ASA HUTCHINSON, DEA ADMINISTRATOR: Good morning to you.

MCEDWARDS: How big a victory is this for your agency?

HUTCHINSON: Well, this is an extraordinary victory, really, for the system of justice, both in the United States and in Colombia. And obviously it represents a great deal of cooperation between our Justice Department and the Ministry of Justice in Colombia. But it shows that their system can work. It did not get corrupted in this instance. We've had over 25 extradited since their new extradition law was passed and it shows that they have the political will to fight this extraordinary problem.

So it was a great reflection of cooperation between the Colombian government and the United States to bring Ochoa to justice.

MCEDWARDS: And what do you do with him now? I mean when and how will he be prosecuted?

HUTCHINSON: Well, he will go through the normal system. He will be arraigned this week in the Southern District of Florida, in Miami area, and then he will be set for trial. Obviously these are still charges that we have to prove in a court of law, but it cannot happen, he cannot be brought to justice without this extradition being, taking place and this is what the drug traffickers fear the most is the possibility of extradition to the United States.

MCEDWARDS: Well, I mean what kind of penalty could he face? And where I'm going with that is is this really about getting him or is it about sending that message to others in Colombia that the U.S. is prepared to extradite?

HUTCHINSON: Well, every individual that engages in this has to know that there is great risk to drug trafficking and bringing this pension into the United States. But in this case, the penalty that he'll face will be under the kingpin statute, continuing criminal enterprise as well as other conspiracy statutes. We, in part of the extradition, he will not be subject to the death penalty, but he will have to stand trial for the charges.

And that's the message, that you cannot escape accountability and responsibility to this. The Colombian system cannot be corrupted and you have to answer here in the United States.

MCEDWARDS: You know, he's argued and his family has argued in a lot of ways, even setting up a Web site, dropping leaflets in soccer stadiums, that he and his family cooperated. They surrendered 10 or 11 years ago. They say it was under the understanding that there would be no extradition under an agreement that was in place at that time, and that he's already served time for his crimes.

HUTCHINSON: Well, under that agreement what transpired previously was not to be subject to further prosecution. But he is being charged for after being released for continuing to engage in drug trafficking. Those are the charges.

What is significant about Ochoa is his significant personality, his presence, his money, his power, influence in Colombia, with all of that and the campaign that he mounted, Colombia had the political will to go ahead and bring Ochoa to justice. So I think all the right messages are being sent here in this case.

MCEDWARDS: All right, Asa Hutchinson, thank you very much for your time this morning. Appreciate it.

HUTCHINSON: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com