Colombia sending cartel head to U.S.

BOGOTA, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Colombia is sending one of its most notorious drug cartel leaders to face charges in United States where, if convicted, he could be sentenced to life.

Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela can appeal his conviction though it seems highly unlikely he would win, El Tiempo reported Thursday.

Orejuela -- the one-time head of the world-famous Cali cartel -- has been in a Colombian prison since his arrest in 1995. However, at that time extradition to the United States was forbidden and not made law in Colombia until two years later.