FBIS3-22039
"jptdd013__l94042"
JPRS-tdd-94-013-L
Document Type:JPRS
Document Title:Narcotics
16 March 1994
LATIN AMERICA
COLOMBIA
Drug Trafficker Urdinola Confesses to Five Crimes
PA2003002994 Santa Fe de Bogota EL TIEMPO in Spanish 16 Mar
94
PA2003002994
Santa Fe de Bogota EL TIEMPO
Language: Spanish
Article Type:BFN
[Text] Cali Cartel drug trafficker Julio Fabio Urdinola has
confessed to five crimes at the Prosecutor General's Office.
Deputy Prosecutor Francisco Sintura provided EL TIEMPO with
this information, saying it was evidence that drug traffickers
in this area of the country want to cooperate with the law.
Urdinola, who surrendered to authorities on 12 March,
confessed to drug trafficking, conspiracy, illegal possession of
weapons, illegal enrichment, and use of false documents. In his
confession, Urdinola asserted that he had introduced more than a
ton of cocaine into the United States.
Urdinola, who is currently under arrest at Palmira Jail,
confessed to a faceless prosecutor in Cali that he was part of a
powerful drug trafficking organization in Valle del Cauca.
Urdinola also admitted that some of his properties were
obtained through the illegal drug trade.
Sintura told EL TIEMPO that Urdinola initially expressed his
interest in surrendering and receiving the benefits the law
provides on 12 March. In announcing his desire to surrender,
Urdinola expressed his willingness to provide authorities with a
written confession of the crimes for which he is surrendering.
After Urdinola appeared before the judicial authorities, the
prosecutor's office ordered a medical examination to determine
his state of health at the time he entered Palmira Jail.
Urdinola was also fingerprinted to confirm his identity.
Urdinola and his assistant, Ancizar Porras, will remain in
custody at the Palmira Jail infirmary while the Justice Ministry
completes its work at the installations where surrendering drug
traffickers will be confined.
In contrast with the opinion expressed by Attorney General
Gustavo Arrieta Padilla, Sintura said that Urdinola is a top
leader in the cartel of northern Valle del Cauca, so his
surrender is a very important achievement for the administration
of justice.
Urdinola expanded his confession to the Prosecutor's Office
during an interrogation on the afternoon of 14 March.