Alleged Death Squad Drug Dealer Surrenders

MANHATTAN (CN) - A Colombian man accused of smuggling tons of cocaine into the United States for a right-wing death squad surrendered to U.S. officials in Panama and was arraigned on federal drug charges. Jhon (sic) Jairo Rendon-Herrera pleaded not guilty and was jailed pending trial.

Rendon is accused of importing "thousands of kilograms" of cocaine into the United States for the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, a right-wing death squad that began by murdering union and peasant organizers on behalf of wealthy Colombian landowners and ended up fighting a war with left-wing guerrillas for control of the cocaine business.

Rendon surrendered to DEA agents on July 31 and was flown to New York, where he was arraigned Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

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