US expands extradition powers, raising fears among Colombia’s coca farmers

US expands extradition powers, raising fears among Colombia’s coca farmers

written by Jack Norman May 23, 2016

US President Barack Obama signed into law an expansion of counter-narcotics prosecutors’ power that has alarmed Colombians who fear small coca growers could be extradited.

The law seeks the extradition of anyone involved in the production and trafficking of drugs to the US, which implicitly means coca farmers could be requested for extradition.

A spokesman for coca farmers in northeast Colombia told local media the expanded powers of US prosecutors is “absurd” and “very dangerous.”

“This act goes against the deals made (between the Colombian government and drug-trafficking FARC guerrillas) in Havana and sows doubt among thousands of Colombian families who have had to grow coca as the only alternative” to legal crops that are unable to timely reach consumption markets from remote areas.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/us-expands-extradition-powers-raises-fears-among-colombias-coca-farmers/

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141462260