Colombia extradites alleged drug lord Sodapuppy to the Netherlands

Colombia has extradited to the Netherlands a 44-year-old alleged drug lord known as “Sodapuppy” accused of coordinating the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine on behalf of Mexican drug cartels.

The Public Prosecution Service in The Hague reported on Friday that the Colombian citizen was arrested by officers of the Dutch gendarmerie.

“He is a key player in an international drug trafficking and money laundering operation,” prosecutors said.

On July 18, he was arrested at the request of the Netherlands in the Colombian city of Tuluá.

The man is suspected of having produced the synthetic drug crystal meth on a large scale in the Netherlands on behalf of Mexican gangs and of having smuggled cocaine from South America to Europe.

He is also said to have smuggled approximately €20 million ($22 million) in illegal proceeds from the Netherlands to Mexico and Colombia.

He is due to appear before the examining magistrate on Monday.

According to news agency ANP, the Public Prosecution Service aims to start a trial against the alleged Colombian drug lord and twelve other suspects later this year.