HomeNewsBriefFARC-Colombia Peace: Mixed Signals on Drug Extraditions
BRIEF

FARC-Colombia Peace: Mixed Signals on Drug Extraditions

25 SEP 2015 BY ARRON DAUGHERTY EN

The Colombian government has issued mixed signals on how a new transitional justice agreement will deal with extradition requests for FARC guerrillas accused of drug trafficking. 

On September 23, leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and government negotiators announced an agreement on transitional justice -- a landmark step towards ending more than 50 years of conflict in Colombia.   

SEE ALSO: Coverage of Colombia Peace Process

A day later, Colombia's Supreme Court ruled that it was possible to connect the crime of drug trafficking with armed insurgency. This was favorable, in part, for the FARC, because should Colombia eventually pass legislation defining ways in which drug trafficking could be considered a "political" crime, this could shield the FARC from prosecution for their role in the cocaine trade. 

However, the Supreme Court also said this should not impede extradition, and subsequently issued a favorable opinion on the extradition request for Juan Vicente Carvajal Isidro, alias "Misael" -- the alleged financial director of the FARC's 10th Front.

Further confusing the matter, in a recent press conference, Colombia's High Commissioner for Peace Sergio Jaramillo hinted at leniency for the extradition of FARC members. "No one is going to participate in the peace deal just to be extradited," he said. However, any definite terms on the issue would be established in the final peace accord, Jaramillo added. 

US courts have indicted at least 60 FARC members on drug trafficking and related charges, meaning they could hypothetically be extradited to the US to stand trial, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

InSight Crime Analysis

Over the course of their rebellion, the FARC have relied heavily on drug trafficking to fund their efforts. While the latest advances in Colombia's peace talks is a cause for much optimism, it seems as though the extradition issue will continue to cast a cloud of uncertainty over the negotiations.  

SEE ALSO: FARC, Peace and Possible Criminalization

Recent comments by US Special Envoy Bernard Aronson suggested that the United States would support -- or at least accept leniency -- on drug extraditions in order to facilitate the peace process. While the US understandably has an interest in successfully prosecuting as many FARC members as possible, facilitating peace in Colombia -- where the United States has already spent billions in security -- is also to the country's advantage. 

In Colombia, vocal opposition to the peace talks remains another obstacle. Former Presidents Alvaro Uribe and Andres Pastrana have both criticized the peace process for being too lenient when it comes to the FARC's drug crimes.

Combined with President Juan Manuel Santos' falling popularity ratings, this could mean trouble when the Colombian public eventually votes on the peace deal via a referendum. 

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report continues to be a reference in the region

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Paraguay Election Coverage Draws Attention 

5 MAY 2023

InSight Crime looked at the various anti-organized crime policies proposed by the candidates in Paraguay’s presidential election, which was won on April 30 by Santiago Peña. Our pre-election coverage was cited…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Cited in OAS, CARICOM Reports

28 APR 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s work was cited nine times in a new report by the Organization of American States (OAS) titled “The Impact of Organized Crime on Women,…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Staff Cited as Experts by International Media

21 APR 2023

This week, InSight Crime deputy editor, Juan Diego Posada, was interviewed by the Associated Press about connections between the ex-FARC mafia and Brazilian criminal groups, and…