BRIEFS: International

Alleged colombian drug lord nabbed

Policía Nacional/courtesy

William Tamayo Hernández1101928

Alleged Colombian drug trafficker William Johny Tamayo Hernández, who has been linked to the Norte del Valle cartel, was captured in Panama Thursday by anti-drug authorities and will most likely be extradited to the United States.

Drug prosecutor José Abel Almengor said that Tamayo does not have any outstanding charges in Panama, but U.S. authorities want to try him in that country in connection with activities carried out by the cartel.

Tamayo was regarded as the “right hand” of Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía, alias Chupeta, who was the head of the Norte del Valle cartel. Ramírez was captured in Brazil in 2007 and extradited to the U.S.

Ministerio Público officials have already established contact with U.S. officials to begin the extradition process.

Tamayo's identity was confirmed Friday through documents sent from Colombia, which included copies of his fingerprints, Almengor said.

It is not known how or when he entered the country, or where he was living. He has not made any statements to local police.

Qalso yesterday, Colombian authorities announced that they had made 39 drug-related arrests in that country. The authorities said that the arrests targeted a gang that allegedly used Panama as part of its network of transporting drugs out of the country to North America.