Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golders
Colombian cops are investigating this photo of former Premier League star Jhon Viafara topless holding three guns after he was arrested on suspicion of belonging to a drug cartel with the USA demanding his extradition.
The former Southampton and Portsmouth midfielder also said he was “a friend of everyone’s” when asked why the United States wanted to extradite him.
Viafara was recently arrested was arrested in 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).
Pictures Credit: Golders
And local media now report this seemingly incriminating photo of Viafara is being investigated as part of the operation.
In the photo, a man identified in reports as Viafara, can be seen standing topless holding a revolver in either hand.
Viafara also appears to have another handgun stuffed down his waistband.
Local media report Viafara is suspected of being in charge of the making payments for the drug cartel and coordinating the routes for the narcotics from Colombia to Central America.
Viafara reportedly refused to give a statement after his arrest but simply said “I’m a friend of everyone’s” when asked why the United States had asked for his extradition.
Pictures Credit: Golders/@jhon.viafara.10
The drug cartel the former Southampton man is suspected of being a member of allegedly sent narcotics to the United States using speed boats, semi-submersible boats and aeroplanes.
The drugs were reportedly transported from the southern Pacific coast of Colombia to Central American countries before being sent to the United States.
The Director of the Colombian National Police, Oscar Atehortua, confirmed that the authorities had seized two shipments of a total of 2.5 tonnes of cocaine believed to have been sent by the gang.
He said: “The cocaine was sent on GoFast speed boats, and planes, which has been verified thanks to two seizures which add up to over 2,500 kilograms of cocaine which have been valued at 28 million USD.”
Viafara and the other four suspects are still in custody in America as the extradition process continues.
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.
