United States Attorney
Southern District of New York
U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
NOVEMBER 4, 2010 ELLEN DAVIS,
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, and MICHELE M. LEONHART, Acting
Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”),
announced today the unsealing of charges against WALID MAKLEDGARCIA,
a/k/a “El Turco,” a/k/a “El Arabe,” a Venezuela-based
drug kingpin accused of trafficking tons of cocaine into the
United States. MAKLED-GARCIA, who was arrested in Colombia on
U.S. charges on August 18, 2010, and is currently in custody
there, was designated one of the world’s most significant drug
kingpins under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by
the President of the United States in May 2009. MAKLED-GARCIA is
also a Consolidated Priority Organization Target (“CPOT”), a
Department of Justice designation reserved for the most dangerous
and prolific narcotics traffickers.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “As the
allegations make clear, even among global narcotics traffickers,
Makled Garcia is a king among kingpins. He allegedly coordinated
a vast international narcotics trafficking organization, and
these charges emphasize our commitment to pursue those who flood
the United States with poison for their own financial gain. We
will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners in
the United States, Colombia, and elsewhere to bring Makled-Garcia
to justice in the United States.”
DEA Acting Administrator MICHELE M. LEONHART said: “Due
to the outstanding work with our partners in Colombia and
elsewhere, Makled-Garcia is behind bars and awaiting extradition
to the United States for the crimes in this indictment. He is a
