Spain's "Le Monde" reported on December 9 that the Colombian Ministry of Defense reported that the United States offered a $2 million wanted Colombian drug lord nicknamed "Tom", Juan Carlos Mesa, was arrested near Medellin, Colombia, on the 9th.
Velasquez was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 1989 for the murder of Colombian presidential candidate Luis Carlos Garland. After serving a 22-year sentence, he was released on parole in 2014.
Juan Carlos Mesa, 50, is the supreme leader of the "Office of Envigado," a drug cartel that rose up after Escobar was killed.
"He has been criminal since 1988 and has been on the Clinton list of the U.S. government's intent on combating drug trafficking and money laundering since 2004." The Colombian Ministry of Defense pointed out on the social networking site account.
After Mesa was arrested, Colombian President Santos tweeted congratulations to colombian police and declared that "the fight against drug trafficking will not stop."
As early as April this year, Santos vowed that the police would bring Mesa to justice because he had entered the police's sights. The mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, also said that this is very necessary to ensure a stable life for the people.
In 2014, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the "Envigado Office" as a drug cartel and charged the group with money laundering, extortion and murder.
The arrest of Mesa was evaluated by the Colombian Ministry of Defence as the most powerful blow against drug trafficking criminal groups this year.
Colombia is the world's largest producer of coca leaf (the raw material for cocaine), with 146,000 hectares of coca leaf cultivation, according to the United Nations. (Compilation/Han Chao)
File image: Pictured is a photo of the drug lord Juan Carlos Mesa on the wanted list. (Image from the Internet)
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