Colombian drug kingpin pleads guilty to trafficking; forfeits more than $15 million in assets

Drug kingpin pleads guilty to trafficking

TAMPA, Fla. — A Colombian drug kingpin reputed to be one of the largest cocaine traffickers in the world has pleaded guilty to trafficking charges in three federal cases.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tampa says Fabio Enrique Ochoa-Vasco entered the plea on Wednesday.

As part of the agreement, Ochoa-Vasco will forfeit more than $15 million in cash, property and assets purchased with drug proceeds or used to facilitate the conspiracy.

The assets include numerous properties in Miami, Colombia, and Mexico. He also has an aircraft in Venezuela, and an island off Colombia worth about $1 million.

Ochoa-Vasco faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.