Alias ‘Papa Pitufo,’ Identified as Colombia’s Smuggling Kingpin, Sued the State
In an unusual development, the alleged ‘smuggling kingpin’ in Colombia, Diego Marin Buitrago, also known by the alias ‘Papa Pitufo,’ would have sued the Colombian state because the arrest warrant against him allegedly caused psychological harm to him and his family. Marin Buitrago would have stated that he suffers from distress, anguish, anxiety, depression, uncertainty, […]
Colombia's alleged "smuggling kingpin," Diego Marin Buitrago, known as 'Papa Pitufo,' has filed a lawsuit against the Colombian state alleging that the arrest warrant against him caused psychological harm to him, his family, and alleged irregularities in the arrest process. The lawsuit, filed in 38th Administrative Court of Bogota, demands nearly 700 million pesos (US$225,000) from the state for damages caused by the criminal proceedings that led to his extradition from Portugal.
Marin Buitrago, who fled from Spain to Portugal, is accused of leading a network dedicated to smuggling and bribing officers of the Fiscal and Customs Police (POLFA). He faces up to 27 years in prison if extradited to Colombia on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and bribery. His lawsuit targets authorities involved in his case, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the judicial branch.
His lawyer, William Mejia, claims that the arrest warrant could only be issued when there was a ruling resolving his legal situation since Marin was abroad at the time. Mejia argues that an "irregular judicial error" occurred in requesting the arrest warrant, and the special rules for international coordination and extradition were not followed.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
