AML / CFT : USA designates former director of prosecutions under Kingpin Act
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated Guillermo Leon Valencia Cossio, former Regional Director for the Colombian Prosecutor's office in Medellin, as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker
The designation is pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for his ties to the criminal organization of Colombian narcotics trafficker Daniel Rendon Herrera (a.k.a. Don
Mario). Valencia Cossio was arrested in August 2008 by Colombian authorities and is currently on trial in Colombia on charges of corruption and conspiracy for providing material assistance to the drug trafficking activities of paramilitary groups including Daniel Rendon Herrera's criminal organisation.
"Today's designation targets Guillermo Leon Valencia Cossio for his abuse of power as a public official in Colombia on behalf of Daniel Rendon Herrera's drug trafficking organization," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin.
Identified as a drug kingpin by President Obama in May 2009, Rendon Herrera has extensive drug transportation networks throughout Colombia that have facilitated the shipment of cocaine to the United States and Europe.
Rendon Herrera faces federal narcotics importation and narco-terrorism conspiracy charges in the United States. Among the charges against Valencia Cossio is that he provided sensitive information concerning the Colombian government's investigation of Rendon Herrera to Juan Felipe Sierra Fernandez, Jhon Freddy Manco Torres (a.k.a. El Indio), and Camilo Torres Martinez (a.k.a.
Fritanga), members of Rendon Herrera's criminal organization designated by OFAC in March 2010.
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