The director of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency has said that Colombian police did not work to secure the surrender of the powerful drug lord Javier Antonio Calle Serna, W Radio reported Tuesday.
The comments come amid U.S. refusal to confirm or deny reports that Calle, alias “Comba,” has turned himself over to American authorities.
Colombia’s Deputy Police Director Gen. Jose Robert Leon said Monday that the kingpin of the powerful ‘Rastrojos’ drug cartel surrendered on the island of Aruba, located just off Venezuela’s coast. He was then reportedly flown to New York and arrested on drug trafficking charges.
DEA chief Michele Leonhart told W Radio that Colombian police did not collaborate with American authorities in securing Calle’s surrender.
In the interview Leonhart noted that when law enforcement undermines the power of drug trafficking networks, bosses have few choices other than to surrender.
“If the (Colombian) authorities continue to extradite criminals, they will continue to surrender,” she told the broadcaster.
She also spoke highly of outgoing National Police Director Oscar Naranjo, saying the police force was a “great success” under Naranjo.
