Brazil's Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) on Thursday formally began extradition proceedings against Colombian drug boss Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, who was arrested in Brazil earlier this week, according to dpa. Judge Ricardo Lewandowski made the move in response to a US request that arrived at the STF last week, days before the drug boss known by the alias "Chupeta" was arrested near Sao Paulo. US authorities now have 60 days to file a formal extradition request, which would be evaluated by a judge and on which the STF would have to reach a decision. Ramirez Abadia could also be tried in Brazil on money laundering charges for which he could face three to 10 years in prison. Earlier Thursday, the Brazilian lawyer representing Ramirez Abadia said the Colombian wants to cooperate with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "My client asked me to contact the DEA and showed his will to cooperate," lawyer Sergio Alambert told Brazilian news site UOL. Two DEA agents tried to interrogate Ramirez Abadia after his arrest Tuesday in Sao Paulo, but he declined to talk to them then, his lawyer said. "I have all my life to talk to you when I am there (in the United States)," Alambert said "Chupeta" told the DEA agents. "He assumes and is conscious of the crimes that are attributed to him in the United States and wants to be deported to that country," Alembert said. Ramirez Abadia is being held by Brazilian Federal Police in Sao Paulo and surveillance has been reinforced to prevent an escape attempt. Reports said local authorities are evaluating the possibility of taking Ramirez Abadia to one of the country's high security prisons. Federal Police sources said when "Chupeta" was arrested early Tuesday in a luxury condominium in Barueri, near Sao Paulo, he was preparing to escape to another country, possibly Argentina or Uruguay. Agents base that theory on boxes found in the mansion and on phone conversations that authorities listened to during an investigation that started in October 2005. The drug boss, who was one of the leaders of Colombia's powerful North of the Valley Cartel, was arrested Tuesday along with 12 other people in Brazilian police's "Operation Farrapos." Four other suspects are still at large. Police found some 300,000 dollars in cash, more than 150 mobile phones and a collection of luxury watches, made by brands like Cartier and Rolex, in the mansion where Ramirez Abadia lived and controlled his business. Preliminary investigations indicate that he had lived in Brazil for about three years and had several real estate assets in that country, including a beach house in Jurere, in the south-eastern state of Santa Catarina, which he was planning to sell for about 1.5 million dollars. According to Brazilian authorities, "Chupeta" is wanted as a suspect for "hundreds of murders in Colombia and the United States, including those of police officers and informants." He is also wanted for money laundering and other crimes. The US government estimated his wealth to be at least 1.8 billion dollars and had offered 5 million dollars for information leading to his capture. According to US authorities, Ramirez Abadia has been active in the drug trade since 1986. In the 1990s his organization allegedly managed to smuggle tons of cocaine into the United States through its border with Mexico. "Chupeta" turned himself in to Colombian authorities in 1996 and was in jail until 2002, but he remained in the drug trade after his release.
