BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: One of the most wanted drug lords has been finally sentenced after he was arrested almost two years ago in 2021. Dario Antonio Usuga David was reportedly awarded 45 years behind bars by United States District Judge Dora L Irizarry on Tuesday, August 8.
The 51-year-old convict faced charges for his involvement "in a continuing criminal enterprise as a leader of the multibillion-dollar paramilitary and drug trafficking organization known as the 'Clan del Golfo' (CDG)." Besides, David also received two 45 years of imprisonment "for engaging in a maritime narcotics conspiracy" and being part of "a narcotics importation conspiracy."
Notably, the sentencing comes after he pled guilty in January, agreeing to pay more than $216 million in proceeds. David is required to go through the prison terms subsequently, as reported by the US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of New York.
Who is Dario Antonio Usuga David?
David is a notorious Colombian drug lord known to run the drug trafficking group, 'Gulf Clan'. As per US Attorney General Merrick Garland, David also known as Otoniel, "led one of the largest cocaine trafficking organizations in the world."
Garland also held him responsible for managing "the exportation of massive amounts of cocaine to the United States and ordered the ruthless execution of Colombian law enforcement, military officials, and civilians."
"This sentence sends a clear message: the Justice Department will find and hold accountable the leaders of deadly drug trafficking organizations that harm the American people, no matter where they are and no matter how long it takes," added the judge.
'I apologize'
During Tuesday’s sentencing, David claimed that he was sorry, as reported by BBC. "I apologize to the governments of the United States and of Colombia and to the victims of the crimes that I have committed," stated the convict, before adding, "Don’t take the same path that I took. The armed conflict should stay in the past. Weapons should stay in the past."
However, the judge didn't find his apology quite convincing as she reportedly expressed, "People growing up in these communities who have the will and have the desire work their way out of it."
'We promised that we would capture this criminal, and we did'
Meanwhile, former Colombian President Ivan Duque took to Twitter to share, "Alias 'Otoniel', the criminal comparable to drug trafficker Pablo Escobar, abuser of children and adolescents, murderer of police officers and social leaders, captured during our government, was sentenced to 45 years in prison by a Federal Court of the Eastern District of NY."
"On the campaign trail, we promised that we would capture this criminal, and we did. This sentence vindicates part of the pain that this bandit caused in our country. My appreciation always to the Military Forces, the Police, and the Prosecutor's Office who worked in an articulated manner to deal this blow to one of the biggest generators of violence in Colombia," added Duque.
