Nini Johana Úsuga David, alias ‘La Negra’, has reached an agreement with the United States Justice and has accepted the different drug trafficking charges, committing to collaborate in several investigations that are still open and to hand over all her assets that were acquired through illegal operations.
La Negra’ is the sister of Dario Antonio Úsuga David, alias ‘Otoniel’, one of the most prominent figures of drug trafficking and paramilitarism in Colombia’s history, who until his capture in October 2021 had been one of the most wanted criminals both outside and inside the country.
Shortly after his extradition to the United States in May, «La Negra» also headed to the United States for his role as the head of the Gulf Clan’s finances and as a liaison for drug cartels trafficking cocaine.
According to the US authorities’ brief to which the Colombian newspaper ‘El Espectador’ has had access, ‘La Negra’ has accepted the charges for associating with third parties to distribute cocaine, at least 400 kilos, as well as for laundering money for the Gulf Clan, ‘Otoniel’ and the rest of his henchmen.
As part of this collaboration, ‘La Negra’ could face at least ten years in prison, a couple more years of probation and an unspecified financial fine of several million dollars.
The Gulf Clan, also known as the ‘Clan Usuga’ after ‘Otoniel’ and his relatives took power following the arrest of Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias ‘Don Mario’, is the main narco-paramilitary organization in the Colombian state.
It is a family structure that under the command of ‘Otoniel’ came to have 3,500 members and the capacity to traffic 20 tons of cocaine per month. At least fifteen of his relatives have been arrested and three others killed, including his brother Juan de Dios Úsuga David, alias «Giovany», who was killed in 2012 during an operation by Colombian state forces.
