US court jails Colombia militants

 Two Colombian paramilitary leaders have been jailed for 20 years on drug-trafficking charges by a US court.  Javier Zuluaga Lindo and Ramiro Vanoy had pleaded guilty of conspiring to import some 18 tonnes of cocaine from Colombia into the US in the late 1990s.  They were among 14 right-wing paramilitaries extradited to the US in May under an agreement between Washington and Bogota. The group was held responsible for many atrocities during Colombia's civil war.  But the US charges did not mention Colombian violence, with authorities instead focusing on a two-year drug-smuggling campaign.  In a Miami court , District Judge K Michael Moore imposed maximum sentences on 60-year-old Vanoy, and Zuluaga, 38, despite prosecutors recommending shorter sentences.  During sentencing, Vanoy admitted his guilt, expressing "remorse" and "repentance" as he was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison.  Zuluaga Lindo, sentenced to 22 years, said he was ready to accept the judge's decision.

Killings, kidnappings, trafficking

The men were leaders of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia who were deported to the US in May.

At the time, Colombian officials said the men had failed to abide by a peace deal under which their groups were demobilised. Under the 2003 pact, the militia leaders were to confess wrongdoing and surrender the proceeds of their crimes. Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe said any international assets seized by US authorities from the paramilitary leaders would go to compensating their victims. But some Colombians feared their extradition meant the militia leaders would not disclose alleged links to many government figures. Known by its Spanish acronym AUC, the stands accused of hundreds of killings and kidnappings during Colombia's decades-long civil conflict. The US says many former paramilitary leaders continue to direct drug-trafficking and money-laundering networks. As well as Miami, group members face trial in Washington, Tampa, New York and Houston.