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WASHINGTON - A top Colombian rebel leader was convicted today in a US court on charges of conspiring to produce and import cocaine into the United States.
Nayibe Rojas, known as Sonia and one of the business brains behind the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC, was extradited to the United States in 2005 by the government of President Alvaro Uribe, who has led a US-financed campaign to combat rebels and traffickers.
Jackie Lesch, a US Justice Department spokeswoman, said Rojas was convicted by a jury in federal court. Sentencing in the case is scheduled for May 7. She faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison or a term determined by the judge.
Rojas had known so much about the inner workings of the FARC that Colombian officials moved her to a ship at sea before her extradition fearing guerrillas planned to kill her to keep her from revealing information.
Uribe was re-elected last year after implementing tough security policies that have reduced violence in the country's 40-year-old guerrilla war. Washington brands the rebels and rival far-right paramilitaries terrorists and drug-smugglers.
The US government has pumped more than US$4 billion in mainly military aid to Colombia since 2000 and the White House has asked Congress to approve US$3.9 billion ($5.63 billion) more. Colombia remains the world's No.1 cocaine producer.
- REUTERS
