TOLIMA – An extensive smuggling network that transported large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to the Netherlands has been exposed by the justice department in the South American country. Thanks to statements from suspects, and with the help of foreign investigative services, the ‘clients’ in our country have also become known.
This is reported by the medium Semana. Justice in Colombia speaks of smuggling of ‘narco-compost’: artificial fertilizer mixed with narcotics that arrived in our country in this way. Cocaine was also secretly shipped to our (air)ports between loads of coal, charcoal and coffee.
Route of drugs to the Netherlands
After the first series of arrests last year, several suspects have testified about the methods, the route and the customers of the cocaine network. The drug trade was mainly coordinated in Tolima, a department in the west of the country. But other locations also played a role in the criminal organization.
The prosecutor, with the support of the police and statements from, among others, the logistical leader of the gang, managed to map out the entire criminal structure. The leaders are known, but also those who were responsible for bribing officials – who ensured that the drugs were transported safely on roads, and ended up in the ports and airports. At the time of the dismantling, a ton of coke was discovered. Links with the former terrorist organization FARC have been seen.
The organization was led by Juan Camilo Castrillón Gil, who has no fewer than four nicknames: Juan, Jota, Cero and U80. “He worked with other members who go by nicknames like Parra and Tony,” the head of the investigation in Colombia explained.
Key player in the gang
The company Malibu Herbs Farms SAS was the linchpin in the network. Behind the facade of this company, criminals processed cocaine into shipments of organic fertilizer and charcoal, which had to be washed out again in the Netherlands. After extensive investigation, the justice department managed to expose the entire network and arrest the leaders in Colombia. The investigation is also focused on other members of the organization, who go by names such as Machete, Mes and Tandarts.
According to the prosecutor, the logistics manager was responsible for the transport and made sure that the shipments could be transported without risk. He was also responsible for coordinating the storage of the coke in the city of Barranquilla. “The man also used another company for this, called Envoltos, which is also used to obtain organic fertilizers to mix with narcotics.”
Mountain of cocaine
The verdict mentions various parties that were smuggled to the Netherlands. For example, a mountain of coke, 400 kilos, was mentioned that was smuggled together with coffee from the El Dorado airport in Bogota to the Netherlands.
The court has decided to sentence the leader of the criminal organization to 11 years in prison. One request by his lawyer to give him house arrest was rejected. The trial against the other suspects continues.
