Fabio Ochoa Vázquez
Encyclopedia
Fabio Ochoa Vásquez was a ranking member of the notorious Medellín Cartel
, which was one of the top Colombian
cocaine
trafficking groups. The youngest of the three Ochoa brothers, he lived in Miami, Florida
during the 1970s. He was allegedly involved in the February 19, 1986 murder of Barry Seal
, who was a former pilot for the Medellin cartel before he agreed to become an informant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
. Ochoa Vásquez was accused of leading a smuggling operation of approximately 30 tons of powder cocaine per month into the United States between 1997 and 1999. According to Mexican
authorities, as recently as 2000 Fabio Ochoa was known to fraternize with some traffickers in the Milenio Cartel, which reportedly operates throughout Mexico
, sending out regular shipments of cocaine
. He was extradited to the United States
in September 2001 and convicted in 2003 of trafficking, conspiracy
and distribution of cocaine in the U.S. He was sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. federal prison.
Medellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
, which was one of the top Colombian
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
trafficking groups. The youngest of the three Ochoa brothers, he lived in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
during the 1970s. He was allegedly involved in the February 19, 1986 murder of Barry Seal
Barry Seal
Adler Berriman Seal , better known as Barry Seal, was a United States drug smuggler and aircraft pilot who flew covert flights for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Medellín Cartel.-Early life:...
, who was a former pilot for the Medellin cartel before he agreed to become an informant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
. Ochoa Vásquez was accused of leading a smuggling operation of approximately 30 tons of powder cocaine per month into the United States between 1997 and 1999. According to Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
authorities, as recently as 2000 Fabio Ochoa was known to fraternize with some traffickers in the Milenio Cartel, which reportedly operates throughout Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, sending out regular shipments of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. He was extradited to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in September 2001 and convicted in 2003 of trafficking, conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
and distribution of cocaine in the U.S. He was sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. federal prison.
See also
- Cocaine CowboysCocaine CowboysCocaine Cowboys is a 2006 documentary film directed by Billy Corben and produced by Alfred Spellman and Billy Corben through their Miami-based media studio Rakontur. The film explores the rise of cocaine and resulting crime epidemic that swept the American city of Miami, Florida in the 1970s and...
- Griselda BlancoGriselda BlancoGriselda Blanco is a former drug lord for the Medellín Cartel, and was a pioneer in the Miami-based cocaine drug trade and underworld during the 1970s and early 1980s.-Biography:...
- Pablo EscobarPablo EscobarPablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
- Medellín CartelMedellín CartelThe Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
- José Gonzalo Rodríguez GachaJosé Gonzalo Rodríguez GachaJosé Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha , also known by the nickname El Mexicano, was a Colombian drug lord who was one of the leaders of the notorious Medellín Cartel along with the Ochoa brothers and Pablo Escobar. At the height of his criminal career Rodríguez was acknowledged as one of the world's most...
- War on DrugsWar on DrugsThe War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...