Colombian narco-terrorist sentenced to 20 years in US prison for role with FARC

Colombian narco-terrorist gets 20 years

NEW YORK — A former leader in the Colombian guerrilla group FARC has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

Jorge Enrique Rodriguez Mendieta pleaded guilty in December to an indictment accusing him of importing tons of cocaine into the U.S.

A federal judge in Washington sentenced him on Friday.

Rodriguez Mendieta was a commander in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which prosecutors said controls half the world’s cocaine supply.

The U.S. has designated it as a narco-terrorist organization.

Rodriguez Mendieta was arrested in 2004 and extradited to the U.S. in 2007.

He was prosecuted in Washington by federal prosecutors from New York City, who have expertise in cases involving FARC.