Colombia extradites man charged in vessel smuggling

Colombia extradites man charged in vessel smuggling Colombian authorities have extradited to U.S. custody a man charged with organizing a 2005 drug smuggling incident in which more than two tons of cocaine were discovered hidden aboard a merchant ship.
   Jose Luis Tejeiro Garcia, 42, when taken to Puerto Rico last Friday and jailed on drug smuggling charges. He originally arrested in Cartagena last year.
   The arrest was part of an investigation being handled by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. In 2005, the captain and crew of the Sea Atlantic, a Bolivian registry vessel, were arrested after the ship was intercepted near Aruba by a ship from the Royal Netherlands Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel was intercepted as part of the multinational 'Caribbean Corridor' anti-smuggling operation. Nine men who were aboard the ship were arrested at that time, and the captain has since been sentenced to 24 years in prison, with the first mate drawing a sentence of 19 years.
   Tejeiro is accused of organizing the drug operation from Colombia.