Colombian authorities ask for the extradition of Diego Marín on charges of smuggling, bribery and participation in a criminal organization
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced today that he asked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who interceded with Portugal to extradite Colombian-Spanish smuggler Diego Marín, known as ‘Papa Smurf’.
“I asked the president [do governo espanhol] Pedro Sánchez to speak to the current government of Portugal (…) and he will try to help us with one goal: May the Marín come to fulfill his penalties here and say the whole truth, whatever it may be, “Petro said in a speech, without specifying when he spoke to Madrid.
Marín was arrested last December in northern Portugal after fled from Spain.
Before being detained in Portugal, Marín was arrested in Spain, but fled to the Portuguese territory after being released while awaiting a decision on his extradition process.
Diego Marín was arrested on April 5, 2024 in the city Valenciana de Gandía and was present to a Judge of the Spanish National Court, who ordered his release with precautionary measures such as the withdrawal of his passport and the obligation to present himself every 15 days while the extradition request was being treated.
Colombian authorities ask for their extradition on charges of smuggling, bribery and participation in a criminal organization.
“Diego Marín was the largest smuggler and whites of the world, of Colombian and Spanish nationality. I asked President Pedro Sánchez, while he [Marín] He was a refugee in Spain because someone told him that we were going to capture him in Colombia, to help us capture him, and he helped, “Petro stressed on Tuesday.
According to a publication in EXCHANGE magazine last February, the electoral campaign of the current Colombian president was infiltrated by ‘Papa Smurf’, which contributed 500 million pesos (about 106,000 euros).
This money was received by Catalan businessman and politician Xavier Vendrell, and he will have allegedly returned some time later by Petro’s order.
Colombian head of state has reiterated several times that he has no calls with “Papa Smurf”, although he recognized in February he saw Marín “once” when he was introduced “with other gentlemen, as a health worker” – as they are known in Colombia some stores that originally sold imported products with tax exemption for entering the country through the San Andrés Island.
At this meeting, Petro explained in February, was also the Spaniard Vendrell, who, in early 2022, received a folder with the money provided by Marín.
“We know that Mr. Marín tried, during the campaign, to infiltrate through my family members and never did. Even when the ‘famous 500 million’ arrived, we forced them to return the money,” said the Colombian leader.
