Druglord pleads guilty in US

2008-06-17 20:23

New York - One of Colombia's most-notorious warlords pleaded guilty on Tuesday to drug-smuggling charges that could put him in a United States prison for the next three decades.

Diego Murillo, formerly a top commander in the rightwing paramilitary group, United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, entered the surprise plea in federal court in New York City, just 35 days after arriving on US soil.

Speaking through an interpreter, he pleaded guilty to an indictment that accused him of conspiring to smuggle tons of cocaine into the United States.

As a condition of Murillo's extradition to the United States, prosecutors had assured the Colombian government that they would not seek a life sentence; the plea agreement calls for him to serve between 27 years and 33 years in prison.

One of 14 extradited to US

Murillo, 47, said little during his court hearing, but acknowledged through an interpreter that he conspired with "military, political and anti-communist" forces to distribute cocaine in the United States.

The warlord was one of 14 paramilitary leaders taken from Colombian jails and extradited to US last month to face drug charges.

Human-rights groups also blame Murillo for hundreds of murders in Colombia, some occurring while he was a top leader of the paramilitary group AUC, and some during a long career in organised crime that stretched back to the days of Pablo Escobar.

Assistant US attorney Eric Snyder said during the hearing that arrangements would be made for special prosecutors from Colombia to interview Murillo in the United States about his alleged human-rights violations.

Murillo is due to be sentenced on December 18.

- AP