2 Run Cartel From Colombian Jail, U.S. Says
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MIAMI — Two brothers who helped found the Cali drug cartel were indicted Monday on counts that they continued to run the billion-dollar operation from their Colombian prison cells.
Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela and Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela were charged along with nine of their associates.
The brothers have been in prison in Colombia since 1995 for their leadership of the cartel. Investigators said they had gotten information two years ago that the brothers had resumed running the cartel from prison.
The two allegedly were operating through Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela’s elder son, William Rodriguez Abadia, who controlled day-to-day operations.
Prosecutors said that from 1990 to 2002, the drug operation imported tons of cocaine into the U.S. by hiding it in shipments of concrete posts, frozen vegetables, lumber, ceramic tiles, coffee and chlorine cylinders.
Authorities seek forfeiture of $2.1 billion and the extradition of all 11 suspects.
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