Alleged Colombian drug kingpin extradited to the U.S. from Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Henry de Jesus Lopez Londono, an alleged Colombian drug lord known as Mi Sangre or My Blood, was extradited from Argentina to the United States on Thursday.

Lopez Londono, 45, is the suspected head of the notorious Urabenos gang, which operates in northern Colombia. He is wanted on drug-trafficking charges in Florida.

The BBC quoted Argentinian officials as saying Lopez Londono was surrounded by members of law enforcement when he was transported by helicopter from a prison near Buenos Aires -- where he has been since 2012 -- to an airport where he was put on a plane and flown to the United States.

Federal prosecutors claim Lopez Londono and his gang brought "huge amounts of cocaine" on boats from Colombia to Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States, La Prensa de Honduras reported.

The defendant's attorneys argued against extradition on the grounds that Londono's life would be in danger because he is a former member of a right-wing, paramilitary group.