Daniel Barrera Barrera

The federal court in Manhattan sentenced Barrera to 35 years' imprisonment and ordered forfeiture of 10 million dollars. The Department of Justice stated that he had trafficked more than 720 tonnes of cocaine during his career and was also convicted of money laundering and drug-trafficking conspiracies linked to other districts.

Legal status — source text

35-year prison sentence and $10 million forfeiture

Attribution

Accused

Barrera and his organisation laundered tens of millions of dollars in trafficking proceeds. A separate money-laundering conspiracy count in the Eastern District of New York forms part of his convictions.

Attribution

Accused

Barrera pleaded guilty in Manhattan to conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing that it would be imported into the United States.

Attribution

Accused

Barrera was extradited to the United States to face cases in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and in Florida concerning drug trafficking and money laundering.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

Barrera led an organisation capable of producing and transporting hundreds of tonnes of cocaine to several continents over many years. US authorities estimated its annual operations at several hundred tonnes at their peak.

US prosecutors described a model in which Barrera bought coca paste from FARC structures, among others, processed drugs in AUC-controlled areas and made payments for protection of laboratories and trafficking routes.

Following his capture, Venezuela handed Barrera over to Colombian authorities, a preliminary step before consideration and execution of the US extradition request.

State of the evidence

Documented

A federal indictment in Florida charged Barrera and associates with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine intended for the United States. Colombian authorities simultaneously offered a reward of several million dollars for his capture.

Attribution

Accused