WORLD : Colombian President Reverses Policy on Drug Extraditions
In a major turnaround in Colombia’s anti-drug strategy, President Cesar Gaviria has announced that cocaine traffickers who surrender will not be extradited to the United States.
The new president said his decree Wednesday is part of a plan to end drug-related terrorism. A year-old war between the government and traffickers fighting extradition has left hundreds of people dead.
“Those who have been in crime and who have repented, and who voluntarily turn themselves in to judges in order to freely confess their crimes, may be tried by our judges based on our judicial order,” Gaviria said in a nationally televised speech Wednesday night.
In July, the Medellin cocaine cartel declared a unilateral cease-fire in its terrorist attacks, apparently hoping that the new Administration would end extraditions.
Gaviria, who was inaugurated Aug. 7, said in his speech that criminals who turn themselves in will also face lighter sentences.
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