PROSECUTORS FILE FOR DRUG LORD'S RETURN TO U.S.

TAMPA -- Local federal prosecutors have filed court documents in an attempt
to have a high-profile drug lord extradited from Colombia to the United
States to stand trial on charges of smuggling tons of cocaine.

Pedro Rafael Navarrete, a Chilean citizen, was arrested in Medellin,
Colombia, last month. He is wanted in several countries in connection with
investigations that accuse him of being the mastermind behind a network
that smuggled drugs into Central America, Europe and the United States.

Navarrete was indicted in Tampa two years ago along with several other men,
some of whom have pleaded guilty or are helping federal agents with the
investigation. After Navarrete was arrested, the federal prosecutors
decided to seek his extradition.

An investigation has established that Navarrete regularly transported
multi-ton quantities of cocaine into the United States from Colombia,
according to court documents.

Navarrete received millions of dollars in transportation fees from the
smuggling and laundered the proceeds through various foreign and domestic
financial institutions, the documents state.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a possible life sentence.