Spain frees “Papa Smurf”, the czar of smuggling in Colombia

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro Urregodescribed it as “very regrettable” that he was provisionally released. Diego Marin Buitragoknown as “Papa Smurf” or “Pitufo”, considered the head of smuggling in Colombia and arrested yesterday Friday on the east coast of Spain.

“Very regrettable, even though we are speaking with the Spanish president (Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón) and there is an extradition treaty that we have fully complied with, the Spanish Justice system has released the main smuggler and money launderer of drug trafficking in Colombia. The Lord Diego Marin “He has been released,” he said. Petro today Saturday April 6, 2024 in your X account.

Very regrettable, even though we are speaking with the Spanish president and there is an extradition treaty that we have fully complied with, the Spanish justice system has released the main smuggler and money launderer of drug trafficking in Colombia.

Mr. Diego Marín has been…

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) April 6, 2024

Agents of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard They arrested yesterday Friday
“Papa Smurf” in Gandía, on the east coast of Spain.

**Diego Marin Buitrago**known as **“Papa Smurf”**, was arrested on Friday, April 5, 2024 in Gandía, Valencia, Spain, but was released. Image from Google Maps

They release “Papa Smurf”

Today Saturday, legal sources reported the EFE that the detainee was provisionally released with precautionary measures passport withdrawal, the obligation to sign every 15 days in court, and the prohibition of leaving Spain.

Likewise, they indicated that Colombia must formalize the extradition request and then, the Criminal Chamber of the National Court will decide whether or not to hand over “Papá Smurf”, a Colombian of Spanish nationality.

“Papa Smurf” was born in 1962 in Palestine, Caldas (Colombia). The judicial authorities of his country require it with a international arrest warrant for smuggling, bribery and membership in a criminal organization.

After an operation by the Colombian security forces, the US anti-drug agency (DEA) and the Attorney General’s Office of the South American country, the Colombian National Police asked the UCO to locate the fugitive once the international arrest warrant was issued.

Smuggling, the other side of drug trafficking

Yesterday, Friday, Petro assured that “Papa Smurf” “is the head of a huge criminal association “which includes people who are within the State, in political life and in general in crime in Colombia dedicated to most of the smuggling in the country.”

“What has been presented today is basically the largest operation in the history of Colombia against smuggling,” said the president, who stated that “smuggling in Colombia is the other side of drug trafficking, the way exported cocaine is converted into Colombian pesos”.

Less than a month ago, on March 13, an operation resulted in several people arrested accused of smuggling, criminal organization and bribery.

In that operation, Colombian authorities dismantled the largest smuggling gang in the country and responsible, according to researchers, of the entry of goods from the United States, Asia and Europe. Or what is the same, 80% of all that moves illegally in Colombian ports.