COLOMBIAN DRUG KINGPIN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON

TAMPA, Fla. -- A Colombian drug kingpin was sentenced to 40 years in
prison Thursday and must forfeit $110 million, authorities said.

Joaquin Mario Valencia-Trujillo, 49, was sentenced in federal court
after being convicted in October on trafficking and money laundering
charges, the Justice Department said.

Valencia-Trujillo was arrested in Bogota, Colombia, in January 2003
and later extradited to Florida. He was arrested on charges of
conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute cocaine and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

During his trial, Valencia-Trujillo was described as the supplier of
over 100 tons of cocaine annually to the United States since the
early 1990s until his arrest.

"The Valencia-Trujillo case serves as another example of the
cooperation and commitment of the United States and Colombia to the
counterdrug effort," said U.S. Attorney Paul I. Perez. "The human
misery and societal cost for which this defendant is responsible
immeasurable. The punishment is well-deserved and long overdue."

Telephone messages left after hours at the offices of Valencia-
Trujillo's attorneys were not immediately returned.