Colombian officials announced late on Monday that police had carried out the biggest seizure of suspected drug money in the country’s history, recovering 29 million dollars and 17 million euros in cash.
By News Wires (text) AFP – Colombian police have recovered a huge stash of money, including 29 million dollars and 17 million euros in cash, believed to belong to wanted drug trafficker Daniel “El Loco” Barrera, officials said.
“It’s the biggest seizure of drug money in this country’s history,” Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said in a statement released late Monday. Around 20 people were detained in the raid, including at least three who are also wanted in the United States for links to drug trafficking. Colombian police chief Oscar Naranjo said the seizure would help undermine a cocaine trafficking network with branches in Mexico and Europe.
The money was seized as part of an international operation launched simultaneously in the United States and Mexico. In recent week, authorities have seized some 120 million dollars in three different raids. Barrera, whose alias “El Loco” means “The Madman,” is one of the most wanted narcotraffickers in Colombia, with authorities offering up to 2.5 million dollars for information leading to his arrest – France24
