Wilber Varela

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Wilber Alirio Varela-Fajardo

Wilber Alirio Varela Fajardo aka Jabón ("Soap") (November 6, 1958 – January 30, 2008) was a Colombian drug dealer member of the Norte del Valle Cartel and attributed with the target assassination of rival traffickers and suspected informants. Varela-Fajardo's drug trafficking activities are integral to the North Valle Cartel which exports multi-ton loads of cocaine primarily from Colombia's Pacific Coast through the Valle del Cauca Department to the United States and Europe.^[1] Varela engaged in a war with Diego León Montoya Sánchez for the control of the drug routes.

In March 2004, the Colombian Government, under Operation Resplandor (an interdiction and surge operation initiated to maintain continued pressure on the North Valle Cartel) arrested seven individuals linked to the Varela-Fajardo organization, and seized $4.7 million USD in counterfeit currency, $2.96 million USD in currency, and $71 million Colombian pesos, three vehicles, five motorcycles, and numerous weapons and explosives from Varela-Fajardo. In May 2004, the Colombian Government, under Operation Resplandor II, executed search warrants for information on Varela-Fajardo's illicit activities and seized $15,000 USD and numerous financial documents, a palm pilot and a computer hard-drive.^[1]

Meanwhile Varela was indicted by a Washington D.C. federal grand jury in the United States on drug trafficking and racketeering charges stemming from his leadership role in the North Valley Cartel. A RICO indictment was filed in the District Court of the District of Columbia by the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the DOJ Criminal Division against the leaders of the North Valley Cartel, including Varela-Fajardo. According to the indictment, the North Valley Cartel exported approximately 500 metric tons of cocaine worth in excess of $10 billion from Colombia, often through Mexico, to the United States between 1990 and 2004. The indictment was unsealed in May 2004. A provisional arrest warrant was issued and was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota. In addition in March, 2004 a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York indicted Varela on Drug Trafficking Charges. The United States Department of State is offering a REWARD OF UP TO $5 MILLION for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Varela-Fajardo.^[1]

Wilber Varela's death has been confirmed by Venezuelan authorities after fingerprints analysis on 30 January 2008.