Extradition from Colombia—John Eidelber Cano Correa

Colombian special forces, backed by helicopter gunships, raided a north-west Colombia ranch, capturing John Eidelber Cano Correa.^[1] Mr. Cano is considered the number three man in the Norte del Valle drug cartel.^[2] He is wanted in the United States to face trial on 10 drug-related charges, and he is allegedly responsible for smuggling roughly 500 tons of cocaine into the United States.^[3] The United States had offered a reward of up to US$5 million for Mr. Cano’s capture.^[4]

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Cano will be extradited to the United States. While the extradition treaty between Colombia and the United States certainly includes narcotics trafficking as an extraditable offense,^[5] and while Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has been quite happy to extradite individuals for such crimes,^[6] he recently stirred up some controversy by using extradition as a negotiating strategy with the country’s warlords. Just over a month ago, President Uribe announced that Diego Fernando Murillo could avoid extradition to the United States if he complies with a peace accord and quits committing crimes.^[7] That announcement caused a considerable amount of concern, and it remains to be seen what Colombia decides to do in the case of Mr. Cano.

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[1] ‘Drug Lord’ Arrested in Colombia, BBC News, Oct. 31, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Cesar Garcia, Colombia Nabs Alleged Drug Cartel Leader, ABC News, Oct. 30, 2005, available here.
[5] See Extradition Treaty, Sep. 14, 1979, U.S.-Colom., appx., para. 1, S. Treaty Doc. No. 97-8 (1976).
[6] See, e.g., our post on the rise in Colombian extraditions here.
[7] See our post on this matter here.