Its leader until last year Colombian cartel Clan del GolfoThe Dairo Antonio Usugaalso known as “Othniel”was sentenced yesterday Tuesday by a US federal court in New York to serve 45 years in prison for drug trafficking.

After being extradited by Colombian authorities to the US in May 2022, he pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of international cocaine trafficking, specifically to importing 96 tons of cocaine into the US market via Central America and Mexico.

Judge Dora Irizarry, implementing the prosecutor’s recommendation, pointed out that this is “without a doubt one of the most serious drug trafficking cases” ever tried by the federal court in Brooklyn.

Othoniel, 51, faced a possible sentence of 20 years to life in prison. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison on each count, but will serve 45 years concurrently.

In January, he also accepted the confiscation of $216 million he saved from his illegal activity.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed satisfaction with the conviction, according to a press release from his office.

“This sentence sends a clear message that the Department of Justice will find and ensure that the leaders of murderous drug syndicates who harm the American people are held accountable, wherever they are and for however long it takes,” he said.

The accused admitted in January that, in the context of his “military work”, “murders were committed” by members of his organization, which has up to 6,000 members and was formed by far-right, former members of paramilitary organizations.

He also admitted that his gang “guaranteed the security of drug labs and traffickers and levied taxes” on cocaine passing through territories under its control.

His extradition in May 2022, seven months after his arrest in Colombia, sparked a bloody campaign of retaliation, a series of police killings in his country. The baron has been the head of the gang since 2012.

But – after the election of social democrat Gustavo Petro, the country’s first left-wing president in history, who wants to negotiate with all armed groups to end the Latin American nation’s six-decade civil war – Othoniel ordered his gang members in August 2022 to end this killing spree.

According to the DEA, the US drug enforcement agency, the Gulf Cartel collaborated with the Mexican Sinaloa and New Generation Jalisco cartels to smuggle drugs into US territory.

According to the same source, 90% of the drugs available on the US market come from Colombia and are often mixed with fentanyl, a powerful and extremely deadly substance added by Mexican cartels.