Wilber Varela
Wilber Varela | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 6, 1957 |
| Died | January 30, 2008 (aged 51) |
| Cause of death | Shot Dead |
| Other names | El Jabón, El Negro, El Jefe, El Comandante. |
| Occupation(s) | Former National Police of Colombia agent, Drug lord |
| Spouse | Yovanna Guzman (until 2008) |
| Children | Wilber Felipe Varela Camacho (Killed on March 20, 2009). |
| Allegiance | Head of Norte del Valle Cartel |
Wilber Alirio Varela Fajardo (November 6, 1957 – January 30, 2008), also known as Jabón ("Soap"), was a former Colombian Police agent who then became a drug dealer and member of the Norte del Valle Cartel. Varela was an extremely violent narco who was attributed with the assassination of rival traffickers and suspected informants.
Varela Fajardo's drug trafficking activities were integral to the North Valle Cartel, which exports multi-ton loads of cocaine primarily from Colombia's Pacific Coast through the Valle del Cauca Department to the United States and Europe.[1] Varela Fajardo engaged in a bloody war with Diego León Montoya Sánchez for the control of the drug routes.
Arrest history
In March 2004, the Colombian Government, under Operación Resplandor (an interdiction and surge operation initiated to maintain continued pressure on the North Valle Cartel) arrested seven individuals linked to the Varela Fajardo organization, and seized $4.7 million USD in counterfeit currency, $2.96 million USD in currency, and $71 million Colombian pesos, three vehicles, five motorcycles, and numerous weapons and explosives from Varela Fajardo. In May 2004, the Colombian Government, under Operation Resplandor II, executed search warrants for information on Varela Fajardo's illicit activities and seized $15,000 USD and numerous financial documents, a palm pilot and a computer hard-drive.[1]
Meanwhile Varela Fajardo was indicted by a Washington D.C. federal grand jury in the United States on drug trafficking and racketeering charges stemming from his leadership role in the North Valley Cartel. A RICO indictment was filed in the District Court of the District of Columbia by the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the DOJ Criminal Division against the leaders of the North Valley Cartel, including Varela Fajardo. According to the indictment, the North Valley Cartel exported approximately 500 metric tons of cocaine worth in excess of $10 billion from Colombia, often through Mexico, to the United States between 1990 and 2004. The indictment was unsealed in May 2004. A provisional arrest warrant was issued and was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota. In addition in March, 2004 a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York indicted Varela on Drug Trafficking Charges. The United States Department of State offered a reward of up to $5m for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Varela Fajardo.[1]
Death
Varela was found murdered in early 2008 in a hotel resort in the state of Mérida in Venezuela.[2] Colombian authorities believe he was murdered by his own men on orders of jailed paramilitary drug lord Carlos Mario Jiménez alias "Macaco" to end Varela's power struggle in the rival city Medellin and surrounding areas in Antioquia. With the death of Varela, Jimenez consolidated himself as the maximum authority in drug trafficking in Colombia controlling the drug trade in ten Colombian states and having authority over the cartel. Jimenez was later extradited to the United States on May 7, 2008 for failing to meet the terms of his surrender and for continuing to run his criminal organization in prison. Wilber Varela Fajardo's death has been confirmed by Venezuelan authorities after fingerprints analysis on January 30, 2008.
See also
References
- ^ a b c US Department of State: Wilber Alirio Varela Fajardo; Deceased state.gov Accessed September 10, 2007.
- ^ BBC, February 1, 2008, Colombian drugs lord found dead
External links
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