Diego Marin Buitrago, alias “Papa Smurf”, one of the most wanted Colombian smugglers, was arrested in Portugal. The 62-year-old is suspected of running a network that supplies counterfeit goods from China to the Colombian market.
The 62-year-old smuggler was caught in one of the towns in the north of the country and placed in custody in the Porto metropolitan area, reported Lisbon television CM TV, citing the Portuguese police services. His arrest was based on an international arrest warrant issued by the Colombian authorities.
Buitrago is suspected of leading a Colombian criminal network involved in smuggling, mainly counterfeit goods from China. He is also accused of crimes against public administration, including bribing government officials.
Diego Marin Buitrago, nickname “Papa Smurf”Colombian police
“Papa Smurf” was detained in Spain a few months ago, but in April, while waiting for extradition to Colombia, the man disappeared. It turned out that he had fled to Portugal, where he was detained by local security services. Now he is to appear before the Court of Appeal in Porto, which will decide whether to apply precautionary measures against him.
According to investigators, the 62-year-old had been hiding in Portugal since this fall, where he tried to legalize his stay by asking for political asylum as an allegedly persecuted member of the Colombian opposition.
Criminal activities of “Papa Smurf”
The smuggler, whose arrest was publicly called for by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has built a network in that country that supervises about 80 percent of shipments of counterfeits from China, mainly clothing and footwear.
According to police findings, the group led by “Papa Smurf” for 25 years included several dozen corrupt government officials, as well as several retired military and police officers.
Main photo source: Colombian police