During the past week, two Norwegian citizens have been arrested in separate police operations in Colombia. – We were put on the alert. Thanks to cooperation, we were able to apprehend these two people, says Major Sergio Camacho to news. He is head of international crime investigations in the Colombian police. The men are in their 40s and 50s and come from Asker and Romerike. They are accused of being central figures in one of the world’s largest drug networks. One is nicknamed “The Professor”. He is accused of being the leader of the network. The other is suspected of having organized and facilitated the smuggling of cocaine. Both of them deny criminal guilt. Sailboats central The police believe the network has a total of 20 sailboats which they have used to transport large quantities of cocaine to Spain. Colombian police also say that two sailboats were ready to transport one ton of cocaine to Spain. The one Norwegian was to be responsible for the transport. Here, the police in Colombia go through the sailboat of one Norwegian: Camacho says the investigation has uncovered a pattern with the smuggling league. – The organization has two fleets of sailing boats, one in South America and one in Spain. According to the head of the investigation, the sailboats pick up drugs in several port cities in South America. They then sail out into international waters. – And hands over to waiting boats, which sail the last route to Spain. Each sailboat can carry up to one ton. From Spain, the police believe that the cocaine is sent out to the rest of Europe. Wanted in 196 countries “The Professor” was arrested at the airport in Bogotá on 29 July, Colombian police confirm to news. According to head of investigations Camacho, “The Professor” has been wanted in all the 196 member countries of Interpol. The video shows the two Norwegians in Colombia: “The professor” has therefore been on the run for some time. But Colombian police had information that he would probably come to Colombia to account for 1.5 tonnes of cocaine that had been seized. – We waited for him in Bogota, and he was arrested without drama, says Camacho. Colombian police tracked his movements through several countries. They believe the “Professor” had already set up a system to hide himself in Colombia as well. – He had already spoken to organizations here in Colombia. His goal was to escape from Spain, from Europol, and establish himself in Colombia with his criminal contacts. But we got ahead of him, claims Camacho. Major Sergio Camacho says the arrests were an operation in collaboration with the police in Spain. Photo: The Colombian police According to the Colombian police, the second Norwegian came to the port city of Barranquilla by sailing boat on 24 July, and was arrested the following day. The police believe this sailboat was one of the 20 used to transport cocaine. Convicted in Norway A large number of judges news has had access to shows that the two men have been convicted several times in Norway. The “Professor” is defended by lawyer Abdelilah Saeme. He has previously told news that his client denies the Colombian accusations, and that he does not recognize the claim that he has led one of the world’s largest drug networks. Saeme has represented “The Professor” in several Norwegian court cases. In judgments news has seen, it appears that he has had connections to criminal circles in Norway. In 2017, “The Professor” pleaded guilty to, among other things, storing several kilograms of drugs and growing cannabis. He was sentenced to prison for one year and two months for a total of six charges. The Norwegian flag on the back of the sailboat one of the arrested Norwegians sailed into Colombia with. Photo: DJIN PHOTOS FROM THE COLOMBIAN POLICE In 2004, he was sentenced to 120 days in prison for, among other things, threats and violence. In 2002, he was acquitted of shooting another man. The Borgarting Court of Appeal acquitted “The Professor” under the emergency guardian provision. In the years between 2004 and 2017, he has also been convicted several times for drug offences, threats and driving without a valid driving licence. Several trips The Colombian police believe the other Norwegian has made several trips to South American countries to collect cocaine. news has presented the charges from the police in Colombia for defender Nils Christian Nordhus, who has defended him in several Norwegian court cases. He says the man does not plead guilty to serious drug offences. Lawyer Nils Christian Nordhus has previously been the defense attorney for the one Norwegian. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news – My client has been arrested in Colombia because the Spanish authorities have issued charges against him. My assistance stems from the fact that a Norwegian has been arrested abroad and from the fact that I have assisted him in various cases in Norway for almost two decades, says Nordhus to news. He says he assists the client with dialogue with consular authorities and lawyers abroad. Nordhus also states that the embassy has met his client in Colombia. In Norway, the man has been convicted of, among other things, several cases of driving without a valid driver’s license and violence against the police in connection with his arrests. International operation The two Norwegians have been arrested as part of a large, Spanish-led police operation with a total of eleven cooperating countries. news has confirmed that it is the same operation where several Norwegians have been arrested in Norway and requested to be extradited to Spain. According to the Spanish National Police, a total of 50 people have been arrested in the operation. 1.5 tonnes of cocaine, eight boats, 36 vehicles and more than 85 telephones have been seized. The operation has been ongoing since June 2020. Searches have been carried out in eight countries, including Norway. Published 01.08.2024, at 12.39
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Norwegians used sailboats to transport cocaine from Colombia to Spain – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
