PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Colombian drug baron Juan Carlos "Lollipop" Abadia Sends Personal Invite To All PBH For Personal Auction To Raise Bail Money

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7340249.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7176555.stm

FYI, I've got first dibs on the SUV & Rio Grande do Sul finca...

Property belonging to a man said to be one of Colombia's most wanted drug traffickers was on sale at an auction in Brazil. "Property portfolio" By any standards, the man suspected of being one of Colombia's leading drug traffickers appears to have gathered together an impressive portfolio of property in Brazil, which is now up for auction. In the exclusive resort of Angra dos Reis, a large swimming pool can be seen at the front of the house, and the same is true at a farm in Rio Grande do Sul. The sale of an extensive and elegant white property in the coastal city of Florianopolis presumably does not include money totalling more than 100,000 euros (£74,000) that was found there by the police. Also up for sale is the property near to Sao Paulo where the original arrest took place, and which at the time was reported to contain 10 televisions, a gym and a pool, as well as six cars. Altogether the properties are said to be worth around £3.2m.

It is perhaps not a total surprise that the man known as "Lollipop" should have accumulated such a wide array of homes. The American state department once estimated his wealth to be around $1.8bn (£0.9bn). The auctioneers say bidders will be guaranteed anonymity. There are already a number of interested parties. The auction is allowed to go ahead, even though the legal process is not concluded, to avoid the empty properties losing value.

The belongings of Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, arrested by Brazilian police in August last year near Sao Paulo, are valued at around $3.2m (£1.6m). Brazilians have been flocking to an auction of goods confiscated from Colombian drug baron Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, who was arrested in Sao Paulo last year. An estimated 5,000 people turned up for Tuesday's opening, causing problems for police at a venue reserved for just 200 bidders. Three thousand items were on display, including 12 televisions. Reports said 80% of the items had been sold within three hours of the sale opening. Clothes on sale included Abadia's overly soiled underpants, the quickest items to sell after his capture half-naked by Brazilian police in August 2007. Abadia, who last week was given a 30-year jail sentence, had surrounded himself with the items at his Sao Paulo hideout before his arrest. Items belonging to Abadia's family were among those on sale.

By lampltr on Apr 10, 2008, 07:58 in Politics & the war.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Apr 10, 2008, 11:09:

I'd say Brazil is light years ahead of Colombia in prosecuting narcos and disposing of their ill-gotten gains. This narco was busted just last year. Colombia, on the other hand, dinks around for a decade or so trying to dispose of assets (and some assets, like big hotels, they hang onto for whatever reason).

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Sam Salmon says on Apr 10, 2008, 11:20:

I like some of the vehicles but the clothes are altogether 'too much'(!)

' a la orden!'

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 11:28:

Good point Tinto. I find it pretty silly that the government seems to like the hotel business so much.

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jonas says on Apr 10, 2008, 11:32:

One Dola for de Chupeta knickers

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 12:21:

It can certainly be abused and it happens on a regular basis. However, I think that in certain cases, it is justified. The problem is ensuring due process.

You could say the same thing about any legal sentence or punishment, but we can't very well just do away with the concept of punishing crimes. In any criminal justice system, there exists the possibility that some will get punished unfairly. In a perfect world, this would not happen, but in our imperfect world we can't do without some kind of criminal justice system.

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 12:28:

Well. According to that, they were in favor of the death penalty. I seem to remember that you are against that.

Also, we are not specifically speaking about the US legal system in this case. I do agree that they have gone way overboard with these practices in the US and they should be severely restricted, but I can't justify allowing the families of a drug baron like Chupeta or Escobar to keep all their ill gotten gains.

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lampltr says on Apr 10, 2008, 15:29:

Rubito & CG, you guys are right on the money....Our neighbor own a 1/4 of a valley it seems, beautiful spread with much cattle, green rolling hills, beautiful finca and a monument (We will not elaberate here) made out of pure marble, the most gorgeous statue that I have ever seen. I had to pull over and get a video clip of it, but we were being watched at the same time so did not linger! This person has 12 more years left of his vacation in the U.S. and he comes home to everything. Another neighbor serving time in Europe had purchased 4 homes in the barrio and a fairly decent SUV, now the family has sold off everything except for 1 small house and the SUV which I am watching but believe they asking too much for the shape it is in. Basically everyone has kept their possessions so far as the fight for survival goes on.

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SiV says on Apr 10, 2008, 16:22:

What sort of message does it give narcos and murderers if they can come home after their sentence to a life of luxury on their ill-gotten gains?

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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Robert Jorge says on Apr 10, 2008, 21:29:

I wouldn't want to be the new property owner of a pissed of narcotraficante's house when he gets out of jail. Or even before he gets out. Screw that.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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ColombianoGringo says on Apr 10, 2008, 21:49:

Very true. I don't think traquetos are too worried about legalities to begin with so I doubt that a deed in your name would mean much.

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SiV says on Apr 11, 2008, 07:05:

Nah, there's loads of ex-narco properties in Cali, especially around Cuidad Jardin. I don't know if there's been any "reappropriation" violence.

If the Feds are corrupt and don't adminster the goods well, that's a different subject, one for the anti-corruption authorities.

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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poco says on Apr 11, 2008, 09:04:

Quote: I'd say Brazil is light years ahead of Colombia in prosecuting narcos and disposing of their ill-gotten gains.

Yep,, Colombia MIGHT seize more stuff,, but Public Auctions,, Ha,, Colombia seems to prefer Private auctions, inviation only and most are BUY IT NOW.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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jonas says on Apr 11, 2008, 11:17:

But doesn´t the US put its hands on seized properties/cash from narcos as well? Now who should get this stuff, US or Colombia/Brazil (in this case)?

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poco says on Apr 11, 2008, 11:56:

Quote: Now who should get this stuff, US or Colombia/Brazil (in this case)?

Finders Keepers

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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