The Associated Press: Colombia spurns US extradition for reputed narco: "Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos spurned a U.S. request to extradite an alleged cocaine kingpin from Venezuela, saying Tuesday that the suspect will be sent back to face charges in his home country.
Walid Makled, 41, has claimed close ties with Venezuela's socialist government and the U.S. State Department last year called him that country's 'largest drug trafficker.'
The announcement drew fierce criticism from U.S. Rep. Connie Mack. The Florida Republican accused the Obama administration of 'a complete dropping of the ball' in a case that would have 'shined the light on a lot of bad behavior by Hugo Chavez and his government.'
Once Makled is sent to Venezuela, 'I think that we will lose vital information,' Mack said by phone from Washington.
Arrested Aug. 19 in the border city of Cucuta, Makled later alleged that he had made an indirect payoff to Venezuela's justice minister in exchange for favors.
At the time of Makled's arrest, Colombia's police director called him a 'pseudo businessman' who got rich through a drug-trafficking alliance with the leftist rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The Makled family at one time owned Venezuela's Aeropostal airlines and a warehousing business at Puerto Cabello, the country's main cargo port."

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