Colombia cartel shuts down towns over leader’s extradition

By ASTRID SUAREZ
Associated Press

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The Gulf Clan drug cartel in Colombia has shut down dozens of towns for four days in reaction its leader’s extradition to the U.S. for trial. Businesses, schools and bus services shut down and a professional soccer match couldn’t be played due to cartel warnings that anyone not at home would be attacked. Church and rights groups say the shut-down appears to be easing, but it underlines that the cartel is still a major security threat despite the arrest last year of its leader, Dairo Antonio Usuga. The cartel decreed the stoppage a day after his extradition Wednesday to face drug trafficking charges in the U.S.