Former Premier League star Jhon Viafara has asked the Colombian authorities for early extradition to the United States after his arrest on suspicion of drug trafficking.
The former Southampton and Portsmouth midfielder was arrested in April the Colombian city of Cali along with four other suspects in a joint operation between the Colombian authorities and the American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Now, the Agencia de Periodismo Ivestigatorio (Agency of Investigative Journalism, API) report Viafara applied for early extradition on 1st of August 2019 to the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice, meaning that Viafara “refuses to give proof to the (Colombian) high court”.
Suspects who apply for this ‘simplified extradition’ are generally willing to accept the charges against them or have an agreement to work with the requesting state, which in this case is the United States of America.
The former midfielder was arrested for working with one of Colombia’s biggest drug cartels, Clan del Golfo, roughly translated to The Gulf’s Clan, based in the country’s southern Pacific coast.
Local media report the former Colombia international worked in transporting drugs from Colombia to Central America and the United States with the use of speed boats, semi-submersible boats and regular boats.
John Viafara’s family were bewildered by the news as they still defend his innocence.
Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, spoke to the footballer’s father about his son’s current situation and released the interview just days after the news of his request came public.
His father said: “My son says he has his hands clean and that is why he is not scared of anything. He wants to go to the United States to clear this misunderstanding up.”
However, the East Texas Court District assures they have testimonies, photographic evidence and recorded phone conversations to prove their accusations.
Judge Luis Hernandez Barbosa, president of the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia, the most important judicial branch in cases of penal and civil law, will be responsible for accepting or denying the request.
If the request is accepted, current Colombian President, Ivan Duque Marquez, would then be responsible for signing the extradition papers and the former Portsmouth man will be sent to the United States.
According Colombian law, Judge Hernandez has 20 days after the request to respond.
Viafara, 40, signed for Portsmouth in 2005 and made 14 league appearances under Alain Perrin before being dropped by Harry Redknapp after Perrin’s sacking.
The Colombian international was then sent on loan to Spanish side Real Sociedad before being bought by Portsmouth’s south-coast rivals Southampton in 2006.
He made 76 league appearances for Southampton in three seasons before leaving the club abruptly, with “homesickness” said to be to blame.
Viafara returned to Colombian side Once Caldas, where he had won the Copa Libertadores in 2004. He retired in 2015.
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Story By: Juan Mayes , Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
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