The extradition of Jhon Viáfara shook the atmosphere of Colombian soccer. The 46-year-old former soccer player was sentenced to 12 years in prison, after being accused of producing narcotics and coordinating the drug shipment route to Central America and the United States.
For the US government, Viáfara is part of the Golf Clan and for this reason he was captured in Cali on March 20, 2019. He was extradited in January 2020.
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Viáfara insists on his innocence and hopes that his case will be reviewed
Viáfara is serving his sentence in Atlanta (Georgia). And from there, he granted an interview to the journalist Osvaldo Hernández, from the Manizales newspaper La Patria. The former player insists that he is innocent.
“Very sad, because what they did to me was not fair. They made me a montage and showed an image that is not mine. They looked for a photo that was also not relevant. They showed me as a criminal and they showed riches that I did not have. They said that the money was in tax havens and that could never be proven; They put me in touch with people I’ve never met. Fortunately, many people know who I am. I never felt supported and they used me as a trophy to show me as a result of the fight against drug trafficking,” said Viáfara.
He assured that the fact of having attended a meeting in which there were people linked to drug trafficking was what led him to experience this situation.
“It’s very different when you’re wrong and you don’t know you’re wrong. If I had known to be in a meeting, in which something was discussed that was going to be done; If I know that this would bring me problems, of course I don’t do it. The Bible says that “where there is no law, there is no punishment.” I didn’t break the law. It’s things like that that happen and I want the world to know it. I can call you and tell you, I need you to come to a meeting and here I say that such a person was here, that gives them extradition, “he said.
“I don’t regret anything, because I didn’t break the law, I didn’t send a single kilo of coca to this country. I attended a meeting, I did nothing, but I was punished. I came here for something I didn’t know about,” he added.
This is how Jhon Viáfara lives his seclusion
Viáfara is in a private prison where there are around 800 inmates, of which about 400 are Colombian. He said that many of them recognized him for what he did in football.
“Here I have realized, since I arrived, that my career was remarkable. I am an internationally recognized person, not only here, but in the other prisons where I have been. There are many people who want to know my story and share with me. The affection of the people has helped me a lot, ”she declared.
Viáfara acknowledged that the extradition process was very difficult. “I have always been very strong mentally and I have had the support of many people, family and friends. The blow was very strong and even more so when they showed the world an image very different from what I am as a person, ”he expressed.
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On what he does while he is in jail, the former player of América, Pasto, Once Caldas, Portsmouth, Real Sociedad, Southampton, La Equidad, Junior, Pereira and Cali explained: “I try to be busy. I read and write a lot. I share with prayer groups, we do recreation, suspended by the pandemic; we played soccer with the Latino community.”
Viáfara said that he has maintained contact with some of his former colleagues. “I have been trying to locate Juan Carlos Henao; I have not been able to, I know that he has sent me reasons. I speak with Herly Alcázar and Wílmer Díaz, and with Jairo ‘Tigre’ Castillo. Ahhh and also with Carlos Bejarano, he remembered him.
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