News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2001
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Michael L. Chapman, Chief, Public Affairs
(202) 307-7977

Head of One of the World’s Largest Cocaine Transportation
Organizations Extradited to the United States

On October 30, 2001, the Government of Colombia extradited Alejandro Bernal-Madrigal, AKA “Juvenal,” to the United States to stand trial on federal drug charges. Bernal-Madrigal, Fabio Ochoa, and others were arrested in Colombia on October 13, 1999, as a result of Operation Millennium. This operation targeted Bernal-Madrigal’s criminal organization which, in 1998 and 1999, smuggled 20 to 30 tons of cocaine per month through Mexico into the United States. The organization used containerized cargo, “mothership/go-fast” operations, fishing vessels, and general aviation aircraft in their illegal enterprise.

According to DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson, “Bernal-Madrigal is the 30^th Colombian citizen extradited to the United States since the re-implementation of extradition in 1997. His extradition provides further evidence of the Colombian Government’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations based in their country. The DEA will continue its efforts with Colombian authorities to bring these notorious drug traffickers to justice.”

Bernal-Madrigal was a member of the infamous Medellin Cartel and later ran the world’s largest cocaine transportation organization. He is being extradited to the Southern District of Florida for charges alleging that he operated a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspired to import and distribute cocaine, and that he oversaw the organization’s money laundering activities.