José Rafael Abello Silva was a drug smuggler who led smuggling operations for the Medellín cartel on the Caribbean coast, especially in Santa Marta, Colombia.
In January 1987, President Virgilio Barco led the Colombian police to put an end to the smuggling practices. Silva was arrested together with another 128 drug dealers. He was accused by the US government for conspiracy in importing and dealing with cocaine. According to the DEA, Silva was a major carrier of the Medellín cartel, he was responsible for shipments of cocaine and marijuana via the Caribbean coast to the US. According to the DEA, Silva would have imported more than 800 kg of cocaine in the US.
On October 10, 1989, Abello Silva, also known as Mono Abello, was arrested in a restaurant in Bogotá. On October 16, 1989, he was escorted by the US Federal Police to a plane to Tulsa, Oklahoma. In April 1990, Silva's trial occurred in Tulsa and on May 19, 1990, he was sentenced to 30 years by Judge Thomas Brett for conspiracy of importing cocaine and marijuana in the US and possession of drugs with the aim of sell. Due to good behavior, Abello Silva was released on July 23, 2007.
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