Wilber Varela
Encyclopedia
Norte del Valle Cartel
The Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, is a drug cartel that operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia...
. 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
Pacific Region of Colombia
The Pacific Region is one of the five major natural regions of the Colombian geography. The Pacific region covers the area near the Pacific Ocean in Colombia that contains certain endemic species and ecosystems accompanied by Colombian cultural influence....
through the Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. It is in the western side of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it is considered one of the most important departments in the Republic of Colombia. Its capital is Santiago de Cali...
to the United States and Europe. Varela Fajardo engaged in a bloody war with Diego León Montoya Sánchez
Diego Leon Montoya Sanchez
Diego León Montoya Sánchez , also known as Don Diego, is a former Colombian crime boss leader of the Norte del Valle drug cartel...
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.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
RICO
-Music:*Rico , a 2000 album by Matt Bianco*"Rico" , a 1998 song the Matthew Good Band from the album Underdogs*Rico International, a manufacturer of reeds, mouthpieces, and woodwind accessories...
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.
Death
Varela was found murdered in early 2008 in a hotel resort in the state of MéridaMérida (state)
Mérida State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida.Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 843,800.- Climate and Vegetation :...
in Venezuela. Colombian authorities believe he was murdered by his own men on orders of jailed paramilitary drug lord Carlos Mario Jiménez
Carlos Mario Jiménez
Carlos Mario Jiménez Naranjo aka "Macaco" or Javier Montañez is a Colombian former drug lord and paramilitary leader. Jimenez was a member of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia paramilitary group which demobilized between 2005 and 2007...
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
- Illegal drug trade in ColombiaIllegal drug trade in ColombiaIllegal drug trade in Colombia refers to the practice of producing and distributing illegal drugs with psychoactive effects in Colombia. Colombia has had four major drug trafficking cartels which eventually created a new social class and influenced several aspects of Colombian culture...
- Illegal drug trade in VenezuelaIllegal drug trade in VenezuelaIllegal drug trade in Venezuela refers to the practice of illegal drug trade in Venezuela. Historically Venezuela has been a path to the United States for illegal drugs originating in Colombia, through Central America and Mexico and Caribbean countries such as Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
- Norte del Valle CartelNorte del Valle CartelThe Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, is a drug cartel that operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia...