Colombian drug cash: $29 million, 17 million euros in bills seized south of capital
By APMonday, October 4, 2010
Huge drug cash seizure in Colombia, official says
BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s defense minister says authorities have seized $29 million and 17 million euros in cash in a home in a poor district south of the capital, Bogota.
The official, Rodrigo Rivera, says the money belonged to drug traffickers including Daniel “El Loco” Barrera. Authorities are offering a $2.7 millon reward for Barrera’s capture.
Rivera says authorities have now seized more than $140 million in cash in the past month in an operation involving the cooperation of U.S. customs officials.
Officials say several billions of dollars in bulk cash are smuggled into Colombia annually by traffickers. They say most of it arrives by shipping container.
Officials say much of it comes from Mexican traffickers while some arrives from Europe.
