Colombian drug kingpin arrested

Police in Colombia have captured a drugs kingpin the US is seeking to extradite, days after killing his twin brother in a shoot-out. Miguel Angel Mejia Munera was found inside a secret compartment in the cab of a lorry by police in Tolima region, Colombia's defence minister said.

His brother, Victor Manuel, was shot dead on Tuesday - and initially was mistaken for Miguel. The US was offering $5m (£2.5m) for information leading to their capture.

This is the latest blow to Colombia's drugs trade, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bogota. But our correspondent adds that there has been little interruption to the export of cocaine, which US authorities now estimate to be as high as 1,000 tonnes (2.2m lb) a year. For every "capo" or boss captured, another five are waiting to take his place, he says.

Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos confirmed that the suspect would be extradited to the US, and gave details of his capture. He was found in the secret air-conditioned compartment with a pistol at his side but gave up without a fight, the minister said.

Police became suspicious after they noticed the driver of the goods lorry buying four bottles of the sports drink Gatorade and snacks at a lorry stop near the town of Honda. Minutes later at a police checkpoint, Mr Santos said, officers noticed the drinks and snacks were no longer in the driver's cabin. "This raised suspicions," the minister noted. Police became more curious when the driver asked to keep the engine running - a bid to keep oxygen flowing to Mr Mejia in his compartment behind the driver's seat, which was equipped with a bed and refrigerator.

"Congratulations, you won," the suspect reportedly told police after his detention. Earlier, Colombian media quoted police sources as saying at least two of Miguel's deputies had been captured along with him.

The site of the capture is close to the rural area in Antioquia province where his brother was killed, reports say. Police had initially mistaken Victor's body for his brother's, after discovering identity papers pertaining to Miguel.

"How good that the head of this snake has been cut off," Interior Minister Carlos Holguin reportedly told RCN radio. The brothers ran one of the most powerful drugs cartels in the country and were also linked to Colombia's right-wing paramilitary groups.

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optionsss said:

what's the point, Afghanistan will just simply have more room to export.

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Mr T said:

Afghanistan produces opium for heroine. Colombia produces coca for cocaine. They're two completely different markets.

And what are you suggesting - that there's no point fighting drug crime lords because someone else will always produce? Quite apart from drugs smuggling they're violent criminals who order the deaths of many people on a regular basis. Colombia is waging war on these people for its own sake more than anything else.

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