Return of Former Drug Lord Fabio Ochoa to Colombia Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice

 

The return of former Medellín cartel operator Fabio Ochoa to Colombia after being deported from the United States has reignited a fierce debate among victims of the notorious drug cartel, many of whom are dismayed by the Colombian authorities' decision to release him without charges.

Ochoa, who served over two decades in U.S. prison for drug trafficking, was deported on Monday and allowed to walk free after being processed by immigration officials at Bogotá’s airport. Despite his claims of being “framed” by U.S. prosecutors, the former drug lord faces intense scrutiny from Colombians still reeling from the violent legacy of the Medellín cartel.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, waged a violent campaign against the Colombian state, leading to thousands of deaths. The cartel targeted police officers, politicians, judges, journalists, and civilians in an effort to thwart government efforts to interdict drug shipments and seize cartel properties. Historians attribute around 10,000 murders to the cartel’s operations. Ochoa was a key player in the cartel’s network, running cocaine distribution operations out of Miami, although he has denied involvement in the cartel’s violent acts.

Many of Ochoa's victims and their families remain skeptical of his claims, with prominent figures like Bogotá mayor Carlos Fernando Galán leading the calls for justice. Galán’s father, presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, was assassinated by cartel hitmen in 1989. On social media, Galán expressed his outrage, calling it “unacceptable” that Ochoa was not facing charges in Colombia. His brother, Juan Manuel Galán, emphasized the widespread impunity for the cartel’s crimes, demanding truth and accountability.

In a similar vein, Gonzalo Enrique Rojas, whose father died in a 1989 plane bombing orchestrated by the Medellín cartel, said that Ochoa’s return provides a crucial opportunity to uncover more about the cartel’s crimes. Rojas now leads a foundation for victims of Colombia's internal conflict, and he believes that Ochoa should be interrogated about the motives behind the plane bombing and the cartel’s possible links to members of the Colombian government.

Although Ochoa served a prison sentence in Colombia during the 1990s for drug trafficking offenses, his extradition to the U.S. in 2001 for his role in a major drug smuggling conspiracy overshadowed his earlier punishment. The 67-year-old former cartel operator’s return to Colombia raises difficult questions about accountability for the crimes committed by one of the most violent criminal organizations in modern history.

Human rights groups and families of victims, including the Colombia with Memory foundation, are calling for further investigation into Ochoa’s role in the cartel’s violence and crimes, arguing that the passage of time should not shield those responsible for terrorizing the nation. For many survivors, the pursuit of justice and truth remains more significant than any sentence Ochoa may have already served.