Saturday, 06 November 2010 09:32

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12773-colombias-king-of-money-laundering-arrested.html

Colombian authorities on Friday arrested Oscar Cuevas, the "king of money laundering," who became rich laundering money for the now-defunct Cali cartel and the country's largest guerrilla organization FARC.

Cuevas' arrest was requested by Spain, where Cuevas is suspected of crimes committed between 2001 and 2004 when, on the run from Colombian authorities, was awaiting a request for political asylum.

The "king of money laundering" earned his nickname, because he is suspected having laundered more drug money than anyone ever in Colombia.

The infamous criminal already spent time in jail in Colombia and the United States, but has always succeeded to be around high-profile personalities including former Colombian President Andres Pastrana, former Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez, former Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem and current Peruvian President Alan Garcia.

When Colombian authorities were after him in 2001, he was able to flee the country and request political asylum in Spain, where according to newspaper El Espectador, he claimed to be the victim of a political persecution, had been kidnapped by ELN guerrillas, was a human rights worker, chairman of the Colombian Peace Foundation and an investigative journalist. During his exile he traveled around Europe and spent his time in affluent circles of the Colombian ex-pat and domestic Madrid community.

When in November 2004 Spanish authorities became suspicious of the Colombian's activities in Europe, Cuevas returned to Bogota where he was apprehended and sent to jail.

The "king of money laundering" will now be sent back to Spain to stand trial and possibly face jail again.