US gains key witness in drug case against rebel

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP):

U.S. prosecutors have apparently won the cooperation of a key witness in the case of a top rebel ideologue arrested last week on charges of trying to import 10 metric tons of cocaine into the U.S.

An official from Colombia's chief prosecutor's office said Marlon Marin was flown Monday to New York after agreeing to testify against co-defendant Seuxis Hernandez, better known by his alias Jesus Santrich. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the politically charged case, which has upended the already stumbling peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Marin is the nephew of Luciano Marin, better known as alias Ivan Marquez, who with Santrich's help led the FARC in peace talks that concluded in 2016 with an agreement to end a half century of fighting.

Both were arrested in Colombia last week on U.S. charges. Audio recordings secretly obtained by U.S. investigators and released by Colombia's chief prosecutor last week purportedly showed Marin arranging meeting between members of the Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel and Santrich. In one of the recordings Marin is also heard allegedly negotiating the payment of a large cocaine shipment with an alleged Mexican cartel member.

Authorities also seized from a Bogota apartment a drawing Santrich allegedly made for Rafael Caro Quintero, one of Mexico's most-notorious narcos, who last week was added to the FBI's 10 most-wanted list of fugitives. The drawing is dedicated to "Don Rafa Caro" from Santrich "with hopes of peace."

Prosecutors for the southern district of New York did not return emails seeking comment.