EXTRADITION LOOMS FOR DRUG LORD

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Fabio Ochoa, a former lieutenant of late drug lord
Pablo Escobar, moved a step closer to being extradited to the United States
Thursday after the Colombian government rejected his latest legal appeal.

Ochoa argued his extradition to the United States would be a violation of a
1990 law allowing traffickers who confessed to avoid extradition and serve
reduced sentences.

Ochoa argued that he had already served prison time in Colombia and had no
further involvement in the drug trade.

But the government Thursday rejected his request, saying Ochoa would get a
fair trial in the United States.

Justice Minister Romulo Gonzalez read a three-page statement denying the
appeal: "The legal and administrative procedures have been strictly met
according to Colombia's constitution and law and Fabio Ochoa has been
guaranteed due process and the right to defend himself."

Ochoa's extradition had been temporarily suspended Aug. 31 after a Bogota
judge gave the United States 10 days to provide evidence of his involvement
in a ring that allegedly smuggled $1 billion of cocaine a month to the
United States and Europe. The temporary suspension could be lifted as soon
as Sept. 14.