page_title: Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía
hierarchical_section_title: Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía
caption_attribution_description: English: Mandatory Credit: Photo by Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock (10011593a) This combination of undated photos provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York shows former Colombian drug lord Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia. The latest star witness for the government in the trial against accused drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been more notable for his appearance than his testimony. Ramirez Abadia told the jury that he had at least three surgeries to change his appearance. The photo at left shows Ramirez Abadia prior to his surgeries and the photo at right is post-surgery El Chapo Prosecution - 30 Nov 2018
context_page_description: Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía is a drug trafficker who, until his capture, was one of the leaders of the North Valley Cartel, who was wanted on drug smuggling, murder and RICO charges in the United States of America. In addition to the trafficking of cocaine, it is believed Ramírez also participated in money laundering and trafficking of heroin. Through Ramírez’ illegal enterprise, he has amassed a fortune estimated at $1.8 billion by the US Department of State. He has been cited as "... one of the most powerful and most elusive drug traffickers in Colombia" by Adam J. Szubin, Director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
  He served time in prison in Colombia from 1996 to 2002 after he had voluntarily surrendered to authorities. As a fugitive, he underwent several plastic surgeries to alter his appearance. On August 7, 2007 he was arrested in São Paulo, Brazil, in an exclusive area called Aldeia da Serra. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Brazil in April 2008. On March 13, 2008, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil granted his extradition to the United States and he was extradited on August 22, 2008.
context_section_description: Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía (Alias "Chupeta") (born February 16, 1963 in Palmira, Colombia) is a drug trafficker who, until his capture, was one of the leaders of the North Valley Cartel (Norte del Valle Cartel), who was wanted on drug smuggling, murder and RICO charges in the United States of America. In addition to the trafficking of cocaine, it is believed Ramírez also participated in money laundering and trafficking of heroin. Through Ramírez’ illegal enterprise, he has amassed a fortune estimated at $1.8 billion by the US Department of State. He has been cited as "... one of the most powerful and most elusive drug traffickers in Colombia" by Adam J. Szubin, Director of  the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
  He served time in prison in Colombia from 1996 to 2002 after he had voluntarily surrendered to authorities. As a fugitive, he underwent several plastic surgeries to alter his appearance. On August 7, 2007 he was arrested in São Paulo, Brazil, in an exclusive area called Aldeia da Serra. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Brazil in April 2008. On March 13, 2008, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil granted his extradition to the United States and he was extradited on August 22, 2008.
  He pleaded guilty to murder and drug charges in 2010 and, as part of a plea deal, agreed to become a witness for the US government in return for a 25 year sentence. He testified at the 2018 trial of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, stating that he had been the main supplier of cocaine to El Chapo's Sinaola cartel. When pressed by El Chapo's defense about his records of having paid for 150 murders-for-hire, he said he couldn't recall the exact number but admitted to several specific cases.
caption: "Chupeta" before and after surgery
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