COLOMBIA TO EXTRADITE ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKERS

BOGOTA -- The Colombian government has granted a U.S. request for the
extradition of two alleged drug traffickers nabbed last year in a
joint U.S.-Colombian operation, officials said.

The extradition of Carlos David Barrera and Alberto de Jesus Gallego
was made public Monday, the same day the pair was transferred from a
maximum-security prison near Medellin to Bogota.

Barrera and Gallego, captured in October 1999 during a massive
international operation executed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration and Colombian police, were transferred from the Itagui
prison amid heavy security that included armored vehicles and tanks.

They were flown to Bogota in a National Police plane.

Barrera and Gallego face drug trafficking and money laundering charges
in the United States.

Barrera has also been charged with bringing drug money from Mexican
operations into Colombia, while Gallego stands accused of laundering
the money.