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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 01, 2008

Former Colombian Paramilitary Leaders Plead
Guilty to Cocaine Importation Conspiracy

AUG 01 -- Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida announced that two former members of a paramilitary and drug-trafficking group, known as the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), Javier Zuluaga-Lindo and Ramiro Vanoy-Murillo, pled guilty to a fourth superseding indictment in which each was charged with conspiracy to import several tons of cocaine from Colombia into the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 963. Vanoy-Murillo and Lindo, who were members of one of the world's largest and most powerful drug-trafficking organizations, face a statutory term of ten years to life imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 9, 2008.

"The arrest, extradition and guilty pleas of former high ranking AUC members Ramiro "Cuco" Vanoy-Murillo and Francisco Javier "Gordo" Zuluaga-Lindo are a victory for law enforcement both in the United States and Colombia," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville. "I would like to thank our partners in Colombia for their efforts in helping us pursue justice regardless of international borders."

“These defendants were traffickers who were members of a paramilitary organization who brought illegal drugs into our country,” stated United States Attorney R. Alexander Acosta. “Today’s guilty pleas signify the continuing effort of international law enforcement to combat narco-trafficking at its highest levels.” Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the DEA.