Pubdate: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2007 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.heraldtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398 Author: The Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) COLOMBIAN DRUG KINGPIN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON TAMPA, Fla. -- A Colombian drug kingpin was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday and must forfeit $110 million, authorities said. Joaquin Mario Valencia-Trujillo, 49, was sentenced in federal court after being convicted in October on trafficking and money laundering charges, the Justice Department said. Valencia-Trujillo was arrested in Bogota, Colombia, in January 2003 and later extradited to Florida. He was arrested on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. During his trial, Valencia-Trujillo was described as the supplier of over 100 tons of cocaine annually to the United States since the early 1990s until his arrest. "The Valencia-Trujillo case serves as another example of the cooperation and commitment of the United States and Colombia to the counterdrug effort," said U.S. Attorney Paul I. Perez. "The human misery and societal cost for which this defendant is responsible immeasurable. The punishment is well-deserved and long overdue." Telephone messages left after hours at the offices of Valencia- Trujillo's attorneys were not immediately returned. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman