|
|
Article: Drug Cartel Founder Convicted;Carlos Lehder Sent Tons of Cocaine Into United States
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 20, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
|
Carlos Lehder Rivas, a self-styled Colombian revolutionary who
helped found the world's largest cocaine cartel, was convicted today
of running a sophisticated drug-smuggling conspiracy that imported
hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine into the United
States in 1979 and 1980.
Lehder's conviction, after seven months of testimony and 6 1/2
days of jury deliberations, is considered the U.S. government's most
successful assault on the powerful Medellin cartel, a violent
conglomerate that controls as much as 80 percent of the cocaine that
has flooded the United States in recent years.
"In the immortal words of James Brown, `I feel good!' " said U.S.
Attorney Robert W. Merkle, who ...