A Norwegian nicknamed “The teacher” A man accused of running a criminal network trafficking cocaine from South America to Europe on sailboats has been arrested in Bogota, Colombian police announced Tuesday.
Pazooki Farhad was arrested at El Dorado airport, while his alleged right-hand man and fellow Norwegian Bernsten Bjarte was captured in the Caribbean coastal city of Barranquilla, according to a police statement.
“According to investigations carried out by various international agencies, the captured citizen (Pazooki Farhad) had criminal links with the Clan del Golfo (the largest Colombian cartel) and Mexican cartels such as Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion,” police said.
Bogota City Hall released a video showing Farhad in custody, accused of heading the largest drug trafficking organization in the world.
Bogota City Hall
Earlier this month, Spanish police have reported The arrest of 50 people suspected of being linked to Farhad in Spain and seven other countries, as well as the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine and eight “drug transport sailing boats”. Europol released a video showing authorities opening bricks of cocaine on one of the ships as well as officers searching properties and making arrests.
Europol said it had already designated Farhad as a “high-value target.” He has more than 20 years of experience in the sector, earning him “the full trust of the Colombian and Mexican drug cartels” with whom he coordinated the shipments, it added.
Farhad’s arrest comes just days after authorities announced the extradition of another international drug trafficker with a colorful nickname. Earlier this week, U.S. authorities announced that a Montenegrin citizen with the nickname “Pirate of the Unknown” was extradited to New York from Italy to face charges related to an alleged international drug trafficking ring that transported tons of cocaine aboard ships around the world.
Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, despite decades of war against cartels.
